Science outreach Saturday through Friday
Posted by Nestor Saiz, on 8 May 2016
Today, the Rockefeller University held its third annual Science Saturday in New York City, its bigger science outreach event of the year.
I had the chance to get involved for the second time and I can attest it is unbelievably fun and rewarding!! Individual research labs and the Science Outreach team from Rockefeller University set up over 25 booths where they present scientific concepts and methods through different activities to engage kids and (importantly!) their families. Children get to learn about DNA structure, brain function, model organisms and – of course – ice cream making (because… ice cream) through games, simple experiments and handcrafts. As usual, you can catch up with the action on twitter.
Bridging robots and humans @RockefellerUniv #rockedu #technology #science #nyc #scisat16 pic.twitter.com/dwA5YQVpbR
— RockEDU (@rockedu_) May 7, 2016
Had an awesome time isolating DNA from strawberries today at #SciSat16 @rockedu_ #scicomm pic.twitter.com/ku9vUDxGrP
— Clair Geary, PhD (@GirlTalkScience) May 7, 2016
Such a large event is a lot of work and requires resources, an organizing team like the university’s excellent Science Outreach program (led by the amazing Jeanne Garbarino) and the coordinated effort of tens of volunteers (from PIs to high school students), from both Rockefeller and the neighboring institutions. However, science outreach can be done at any level. Do it next time a relative asks you ‘what do you do in the lab all day?’. Do it when you’re at a party and someone asks ‘what do you exactly work on?’. Prepare a big-picture, short explanation, practice and deliver it. Bring a friend to the lab and show them around! The goal is always the same: engage non-scientists, show them that they too can understand science and make them aware of the way science actually works (and how it often doesn’t!). To boot, it will make you understand your own work better and will help you put it into context! Let’s create a more scientifically literate society that demands more and better science. Get involved!
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