Science Outreach Update

I just met with April Luehmann about science outreach. Here is a distilled version of what I learned:

  1. The university does not have a centralized structure, and so many departments are disconnected and not well communicated. Any push for an outreach program between departments are usually made and then dissolve once group members change or move on.
  1. No science outreach department in the University
  1. April is the PI on research for scientific teaching. She has a group of doctoral students of varied research focus: girls in science, underprivileged urban students, technology in the classroom, neuroscience and psychology, etc. all with the main objective of teaching science in revolutionary (not limited to traditional methods) ways to students that need help.
  1. In the summer there are 2 sessions she oversees: A) prepares masters students for teaching science, B) has masters students teach students; students are from East High school and Freedom school.
  1. In the Fall and Spring semesters, there is an after school club called the Science STARS (Students Tackling Authentic and Relevant Science) at East High. This is an NSF funded effort to get girls involved in science. Here is the page discussing the grant and program: ​http://www.rochester.edu/news/show.php?id=3941.
  1. Throughout the academic year, the STARS leaders engage/mentor/hang out with the students.

Where do we fit into this model? Well, instead of starting up our own science outreach program (time, money, lots of effort to get connected to local schools), we can piggy back off of April's program. This means potentially the following a) this semester taking the kids to planetarium or out star observing with a telescope (I volunteered to do this with April), b) in April/May, we as a larger group can organize with April mini-lessons with the students, c) I may participate in research meetings with April's team occasionally, d) I may attend a few of her lessons in the summer session A on science teaching (and could distill information to the rest of the group).

Comments

No comments.