Outreach CommunicationsOCN 750: Class Project

Why is science communication important?

U.S. currently ranked 25th in math, and 17th in science among developed nations

Encourage more students into math and science careers

Decrease the knowledge gap between public and professional scientists

Better informed political choices regarding science policy and other important decisions

http://blogs.nature.com/soapboxscience/2013/02/27/why-we-need-science-communication

http://socialrhythms.wordpress.com/2011/06/14/ted-talks/

http://www.askmen.com/specials/2012_top_49/25-neil-degrasse-tyson.html

Why I chose to work on my communication skills

Only scientist in my family (except for 7 year old nephew who wants to be a “rock scientist”)

Wanted to be able to explain what I do to my family and friends more effectively

Help with my teaching skills and refine the ability to simplify scientific principles to a broader, and more general audience

http://blogs.nature.com/soapboxscience/2013/02/27/why-we-need-science-communication

How can we improve our science communication skills?

Experience!!! I took part of three different outreach activities throughout

the semester, each addressing science communication to people with different levels of previous scientific knowledge

First, was a science communications piece with a student journalist at University of Kings College in Halifax, Nova Scotia

During this interview I was asked my opinion on multiple questions. From this experience I learned that with science communication, even when expressing your opinion, it is best to base your opinions off scientific evidence.

HI

NS

Waikiki SeaHunt ~500 children (ages 1-7) Helped facilitate five of the outreach box

activities, including ; “plankton toss game”, “penny plop”, “knot tying”, “what microbe are you?”, and “air & ocean pressure”

From volunteering at this event I realized how effective hands on activities are in getting across abstract topics to younger kids

It was very different from my interviewing experience, I had to work work on much more general concentps concepts Photo Credit: Jackie Mueller

P-20 Outreach Project Hawai’i P-20 Partnership for Education is a program

that is “working to strengthen the education pipeline from early childhood through higher education so that all students achieve career and college success”

Middle school career day, May 16th, 2013 Asked to plan a lab tour/exercise for 2 groups of ~ 15

students that would last 45 minutes each, and would effectively explain the type of research I do

These students are 6th-8th graders and from my experience at the Waikiki SeaHunt I realized a hands on activity would be most effective

Terrarium Exercise and Lab Tour Developed terrarium exercise where students can

make their own self-sustaining ecosystem within a 2-Liter bottle

With the hands-on terrarium exercise and use of a whiteboard students will get a better understanding of concepts like photosynthesis, cell respiration and the carbon cycle

I will then give the students a tour of our lab, with a focus on the chamber room where we have some fern growth experiments going on right now

http://www.stormthecastle.com/terrarium/soda-bottle-terrarium.htm

Terrarium Exercise and Lab Tour David Latimer, with his

terrarium that he planted back in 1960

It hasn’t been watered since 1972, over 40 years ago

The spiderwort plant inside has survived entirely from outside light, photosynthesis, respiration and nutrient recycling within the self-sustaining ecosystem

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-2267504/The-sealed-bottle-garden-thriving-40-years-fresh-air-water.html

Questions?