What Is Outreach and Why Do It?

Outreach, or public engagement, brings together science education, communication, and policy. All outreach engagies the general public in science. Outreach can take many forms, from working with elementary school kids in science fairs, to science-related art, to hosting monthly science discussions in cafes.

There are many reasons to do to outreach. Outreach by scientists can increase public support and awareness of science in general and can help increase public understanding of specific issues, which can lead to more informed choices. Participating in outreach activities can also be stimulating for scientists and enhance their creativity and motivation.

How to Get Started

Determine your goals. Do you want to: tell the world everything about your field of research? Contribute to public debate about scientific issues? Inspire a new generation of scientists? Improve the science capital of specific social groups? Help reduce the attainment gap for disadvantaged students? Involve the public in your research?

Determine your audience. Consider what sector of the public you want to engage, such as families with young children, teenagers, interested adults, patient groups, community organizations, school children of different ages, or policy makers.

Develop a Plan.

  • What is the most efficient and cost-effective way to achieve your main goal?
  • What are your strengths and experience?
  • Do you need training (e.g., training in recording/editing or social media communications before starting a blog/podcast)?
  • Consider forming an advisory group to help with different aspects of planning and delivery (e.g., school teachers, science communicators, press officers, etc.).
  • Do you need to conduct a risk assessment? In the UK, for example, working with groups of vulnerable adults or with children requires specific paperwork and disclosures.
  • Develop a good evaluation system and use the feedback to improve your activity.

Work with a Community Partner.

A partner can extend your reach. You may be able to find a partner within your organization or external to it.

Some examples of internal partners:

  • Outreach/Public engagement teams;
  • Widening participation/broader impacts teams;
  • Press Offices;
  • Marketing/PR departments;
  • Other scientists involved in public engagement.

Partners external to your organization may include:

  • Science festivals;
  • Local schools/science teachers;
  • STEM network (UK);
  • Local museum(s) andscience centers;
  • Local coffee shops/pubs (Café Scientifique, etc.);
  • Community groups/organizations/centers; and libraries.

Wherever they may be found, partners can:

  • Provide resources/space/audience (e.g., science museums, community groups)
  • Give you a different perspective and/or complement your activity (art-science collaborations)
  • Provide expertise (e.g., working with school teachers in curriculum development)
  • Provide training (e.g., media training, etc.)

Obtain Funding.

You may have a great outreach idea, but unless you obtain funding it will never be realized. Some examples of funding sources include your institution, civic organizations such as the Rotary Club, or libraries, museums, and zoos.  See the resource list below for more ideas.

Develop Feedback, Evaluation, and Sustainability.

Evaluate your activity so you’ll be able to improve it. Many funders require assessment. Plan ahead how you will solicit evaluations or feedback. Consider getting feedback not just from participants, but also from volunteers, organizers, and other stakeholders. It often takes several iterations to get the kinks out of a new program. Use the feedback to improve the program. It is a good idea to conduct various types of evaluations. These include pre- and post- event surveys to assess changes in specific content knowledge or attitudes; collecting demographic data; reflective feedback and Interviews.

Resources

Podcasting to the general public (skills needed: recording/editing/interviews):

  • @StarTalkRadio hosted by Neil deGrasse Tyson
  • @themonkeycage The infinite monkey cage (BBC) hosted by Prof Brian Cox and Robin Ince
  • 60-Second Science hosted by Scientific American Team (historical – blog no longer active)

Blogging to the general public (some relevant examples):

Science festivals (skills needed: communications and event design):

Workshops/talks in public spaces like malls, parks, etc. (an example):

School outreach (skills needed: verbal communication):

  • STEM ecosystems 
  • UK: Routes into Employment events
  • Career fairs normally held at high schools but also big regional events
  • Career event “speed-dating” scientists

School curriculum development:

Science Advocacy:

Organizing Public Engagement Events:

  1. Nancy Duarte uncovers common structure of greatest communicators: 
  2. Melissa Marshall: “Talk Nerdy to me”
  3. Tyler Dewitt (aimed at teachers, but could be useful) 

Potential Funding Sources

USA

UK