We would like to invite you to attend the ASLO Public Outreach Workshop being held on Wednesday, February 24th at the 2010 Ocean Sciences Meeting in Portland, Oregon. This workshop, which will take place in room F151 from 11:45am to 12:45pm, will be an excellent opportunity for you to meet and interact with prospective scientist mentors. We invite you to bring brochures or to set up a poster or table to provide additional information on your organization. Below is additional information on the workshop and a preliminary schedule. We hope that you can join us and we look forward to meeting you.
ASLO Public Outreach Workshop
Broadening Your Research Impact: An Invitation to Attend a Lunch Time Panel Discussion on Connecting Scientists and Educators to Improve Education and Public Outreach (EPO)
When: Wednesday, 24 February (11:45 – 12:45)
Where: Room F151
Scientists are increasingly being asked to become more involved in communicating the “broader impacts” of their work. With the threat of a declining scientific workforce and an increase decline in public literacy on ocean and aquatic science issues, the time is now for connecting ocean science research and public education. Please bring your lunch and join us for presentations and a discussion by a panel of scientists and educators, including representatives from the Centers for Ocean Science Education Excellence (COSEE) on strategies for effective education and public outreach (EPO). A demonstration of available resources and discussion of opportunities will help scientists develop their own ideas and plans for future EPO activities.
Schedule
11:45 – 12:10 Welcome by Janice McDonnell, Chair Education Subcommittee, ASLO and introductions to EPO Facilitators with expertise in informal and formal education and public outreach.
12:10 – 12:45 Scientist invited to visit the tables of EPO facilitators and discuss ideas and connections for Broader Impacts. Materials from a variety of organizations will be available for distribution.
This looks great, but it’s a long way for me to come from Woods Hole. You may be interested in our non-profit program, The Zephyr Education Foundation http://www.zephyrmarine.net where we work with WHOI and MBL scientists to present their projects in a hands-on format during class field trips on our research boat on Vineyard Sound. I would encourage scientists to contact us so we can discuss outreach opportunities of your work, including getting students to participate in data collection in this exciting,focused, experiential program to hundreds of students a year. We also visit the docks, coastal zones and salt marshes to provide a comprehensive picture of current marine scuence research and educational possibilities.