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Outreach Communications

Outreach Communications. OCN 750: Class Project . Why is science communication important?. U.S. currently ranked 25 th in math, and 17 th in science among developed nations Encourage more students into math and science careers

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Outreach Communications

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  1. Outreach Communications OCN 750: Class Project

  2. 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://www.askmen.com/specials/2012_top_49/25-neil-degrasse-tyson.html http://socialrhythms.wordpress.com/2011/06/14/ted-talks/

  3. 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

  4. 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. NS HI

  5. 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

  6. 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 andfrom my experience at the Waikiki SeaHunt I realized a hands on activity would be most effective

  7. 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

  8. 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

  9. Questions?

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