Characterizing the Landscape: Collegiate Organizations’ Chemistry Outreach Practices

Abstract

Little scholarly investigation of chemistry outreach carried out by undergraduate students in schools and communities has occurred despite widespread practice and monetary investment by large national and international organizations. This study provides the first investigation of these fairly uncharted waters by characterizing expected outcomes of outreach events, the types of activities and chemistry content widely practiced, and how outreach practitioners evaluate the success of events. Results from an open-ended survey deployed nationally to college students and faculty/staff members involved with collegiate chapters of the American Chemical Society and Alpha Chi Sigma are presented. Students and faculty/staff members reported that the most prevalent purposes of chemistry outreach are learning and having fun as a result of attending events, and that events typically involve demonstrations using liquid nitrogen, making slime, and the elephant toothpaste reaction. Differences between students and faculty/staff members are also presented as well as potential future investigations of chemistry outreach practices, which are needed to fully understand this unique chemistry teaching and learning environment.