Post on 30-Dec-2015
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In the Trenches: Scientific Outreach from the Perspective
of a Working Scientist
Andrea D. WolfeAndrea D. Wolfe
Department of Evolution, Ecology Department of Evolution, Ecology and Organismal Biologyand Organismal Biology
The Ohio State UniversityThe Ohio State University
Why bother???
Kansas and all other “balanced Kansas and all other “balanced treatment” effortstreatment” efforts
Yellowstone, Los Alamos, Southern Yellowstone, Los Alamos, Southern California wildfiresCalifornia wildfires
Genetic engineering and genetically Genetic engineering and genetically modified organismsmodified organisms
School funding, higher education, $$$ for School funding, higher education, $$$ for basic researchbasic research
Perception of the problem More than half of students in introductory More than half of students in introductory
course at OSU had never traveled outside course at OSU had never traveled outside OhioOhio
More than 90% believe that technology will More than 90% believe that technology will solve all environmental problemssolve all environmental problems
Almost half had a conflict with religion and Almost half had a conflict with religion and sciencescience
Most think that science is beyond their abilityMost think that science is beyond their ability
Examples of Scientific Outreach for Botanists - Academic Teach in the non-majors biology coursesTeach in the non-majors biology courses Sponsor undergraduate research Sponsor undergraduate research
experiencesexperiences Sponsor high school student researchSponsor high school student research Serve as a science fair judgeServe as a science fair judge Assist in K-12 workshops through Assist in K-12 workshops through
education departmenteducation department
Scientific Outreach for Botanists - Connecting with the Public Opportunities with childrenOpportunities with children
Youth organizationsYouth organizations K-12 interactionK-12 interaction Volunteering with parks, zoos, etc.Volunteering with parks, zoos, etc.
Opportunities with adultsOpportunities with adults Garden clubs and plant associationsGarden clubs and plant associations Tap into your hobbiesTap into your hobbies
Using the web as a tool for outreachUsing the web as a tool for outreach
Scientific Outreach to Children Boy Scouts of America (the other BSA)Boy Scouts of America (the other BSA)
Council level activities for Cub ScoutsCouncil level activities for Cub Scouts Pow wowPow wow
District level activities for Cub ScoutsDistrict level activities for Cub Scouts Day CampDay Camp Webelos overnight campoutWebelos overnight campout Scout DayScout Day Webelos outdoor trainingWebelos outdoor training
Webelos Outdoor Training
Scientific Outreach to Children
K-12 opportunitiesK-12 opportunities Volunteer in the classroomVolunteer in the classroom Volunteer for fieldtrips that involve Volunteer for fieldtrips that involve
naturenature Develop unique opportunitiesDevelop unique opportunities
Digi-cam safari to South AfricaDigi-cam safari to South Africa
Fieldwork in South Africa - Outreach with Tremont Elementary School in Upper Arlington, Ohio
November 15 to December 15, 1999November 15 to December 15, 1999 Email correspondence from Compton Email correspondence from Compton
HerbariumHerbarium 233 digital photos sent in 16 batches233 digital photos sent in 16 batches
Narrative about what we did, what we sawNarrative about what we did, what we saw Background information on biodiversity of Background information on biodiversity of
South Africa, habitats visitedSouth Africa, habitats visited Overview of cultural differences and historyOverview of cultural differences and history
In the Herbarium
In the Field
Collecting parasitic plants
Habitats of South Africa
Interesting Plants
South African Fauna
Cultural aspects
San Cave Paintings
Scientific Outreach - Adults
Garden club and other public lecturesGarden club and other public lectures ““Stalking the Wild Penstemon”Stalking the Wild Penstemon” ““Parasitic Plants of South Africa”Parasitic Plants of South Africa”
Hobbies as an opportunity for outreachHobbies as an opportunity for outreach Woodworkers of Central OhioWoodworkers of Central Ohio Central Ohio WoodturnersCentral Ohio Woodturners
Central Ohio Woodturners
Outreach Opportunities in Woodworking & Woodturning The botany of woodThe botany of wood
Grain and figureGrain and figure Stems and rootsStems and roots Burls, burrs, diseaseBurls, burrs, disease
Sustainable loggingSustainable logging BiodiversityBiodiversity Biomes of the worldBiomes of the world
Using the Web for Outreach
Taxon-specific websitesTaxon-specific websites Especially effective for horticulturally and Especially effective for horticulturally and
agriculturally important plantsagriculturally important plants Technique-oriented websitesTechnique-oriented websites
ISSR Resource WebsiteISSR Resource Website Courses and course pages on the webCourses and course pages on the web Web pages on researchWeb pages on research
How much time??? Not a big investment in the overall scale of a Not a big investment in the overall scale of a
busy academic schedulebusy academic schedule Maybe one or two weekends a year for scouts, Maybe one or two weekends a year for scouts,
one evening a month for committee workone evening a month for committee work An afternoon here and there for K-12An afternoon here and there for K-12 A few hours every couple of months for A few hours every couple of months for
interaction with fellow craftersinteraction with fellow crafters An occasional evening for other effortsAn occasional evening for other efforts A bit more time for web based effortsA bit more time for web based efforts
How does it benefit us?
Scientific outreach is important to the Scientific outreach is important to the universityuniversity
We can make some contribution to We can make some contribution to improving scientific literacyimproving scientific literacy
We are public employees - people like to We are public employees - people like to know how their tax money is spentknow how their tax money is spent
It’s fun!It’s fun!