Science Outreach Research Articles

Virtual reality in astronomy education: reflecting on design principles through a dialogue between researchers and practitioners

ABSTRACT Virtual reality (VR) technologies have the potential to transform astronomy education practices profoundly: new forms of visual representations, perceptual engagement and embodied participation promise authentic learning experiences in formal and informal learning spaces. While a growing body of research studies the educational needs and opportunities of VR astronomy education from the learner’s perspective, relatively few studies have explored the perspectives of education and public outreach (EPO) professionals. This study aims to turn our attention to these complementary perspectives and shed light on design considerations for using VR in astronomy education. We unpack design principles as a dialogue between researchers and practitioners, framing this dialogue as an act of reflective practice. The findings and the ensuing dialogue draw on data from two focus group interviews with EPO professionals and scientists from the Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Gravitational Wave Discovery. Our design principles centre on aspects of immersion, visualisation, facilitation, and collaboration and can guide astronomy educators who wish to use VR in formal and informal learning environments. Besides, our study contributes to a deeper understanding of the new learning contexts VR technologies can create in astronomy education.

Scientific communities of practice: K–12 outreach model around organism responses to repeated hurricane disturbances

AbstractCollaboration between ecologists and learning scientists can give rise to powerful models for scientific outreach within ecology. This paper presents a process by which learning scientists and ecologists codesigned a science curriculum that invites students to join an ecological community of practice. In the Journey to El Yunque middle school science curriculum, students engage with simulation models generated from data gathered by Luquillo Long Term Ecological Research (LUQ LTER) scientists. Journey to El Yunque students can explore post‐hurricane population changes in yagrumo (Cecropia schreberiana), tabonuco (Dacryodes excelsa), coquís (Eleutherodactylus coquí), snails (Caracolus caracola), anoles (Anolis stratulus and A. gundlachi), veiled stinkhorn mushrooms (Dictyophora indusiata), and caterpillars (Historis odius). Ecology‐based revisions to Journey to El Yunque have included adding models of the effects of repeated hurricanes on limiting factors, based in part on findings from a canopy trimming experiment. Revisions based on classroom testing include simplifying student‐facing model controls to allow students to focus on the essential model components. The ongoing collaboration that keeps the Journey to El Yunque curriculum on the cutting edge of ecological and educational advances has been sustained for over two decades. We attribute the longevity of this work to (1) the long‐term nature of LUQ LTER, (2) a sustained interdisciplinary collaboration, and (3) our long‐term relationships with schools.

Unifying concert research and science outreach

Music has the ability to captivate and engage people from all walks of life and in a wide range of situations. Music psychologists seek to understand the various psychological processes that are involved in music listening and making, including perception, cognition, motor skills, and emotion. In recent years, music psychology researchers have begun to collect data in real-life settings, such as concerts of live music. This approach offers a unique opportunity to connect with a wide variety of participants and at the same time gain insights that may not be available in laboratory settings. In this Letter to the Editor, we report on the novel format of an outreach activity called the Golden Ear Challenge that introduces a gamified component and thus unifies concert research and science communication. First organized at the University of Oldenburg in October 2022, the activity uses this format to demonstrate the approaches and methods of music psychology in an accessible and engaging way. By providing accessible and informative content, it aims to inspire people from various backgrounds to learn more about science and, in particular, the fascinating field of music psychology.

Vessels of Opportunity in Marine Science Outreach and Education: Case Study and Caveats

Studying unexpected, ephemeral, or transient events in ocean ecosystems, such as gelatinous zooplankton blooms, is important because it provides us with valuable data on how our oceans may be changing in response to climate change and other anthropogenic activities. However, planning for such events is nearly impossible and making use of opportunistically acquired data allows the marine science community to be adaptive and efficient given the logistical and financial constraints of time at sea and in the field. Because such sampling events are often responsive rather than planned, they are typically not accompanied by outreach and education efforts. This commentary considers if opportunistically acquired data sets can be applied to generate opportunistic outreach and education activities. A case study is provided with successes and caveats outlined.

Report and Abstracts of the 19th Meeting of the Interuniversity Institute of Myology: Assisi, October 20-23, 2022

After two years of conferences on a virtual platform due to the COVID-19 pandemic, finally, the 19th annual meeting of the Interuniversity Institute of Myology (IIM) has returned to the heart of central Italy, in Assisi, an important cultural hub, which boasts a wide range of historic buildings and museums. This event brought together scientists from around the world providing a valuable opportunity to discuss scientific issues in the field of myology. Traditionally, the meeting particularly encourages the participation of young trainees, and the panel discussions were moderated by leading international scientists, making this a special event where young researchers had the opportunity to talk to prestigious scientists in a friendly and informal environment. Furthermore, the IIM young researchers’ winners for the best oral and poster presentations, became part of the IIM Young Committee, involved in the scientific organization of sessions and roundtables and for the invitation of a main speaker for the IIM 2023 meeting. The four keynote speakers for the IIM Conference 2022 presented new insights into the role of multinucleation during muscle growth and disease, the long-range distribution of giant mRNAs in skeletal muscle, human skeletal muscle remodelling from type 2 diabetic patients and the genome integrity and cell identity in adult muscle stem cells. The congress hosted young PhD students and trainees and included 6 research sessions, two poster sessions, round tables and socio-cultural events, promoting science outreach and interdisciplinary works that are advancing new directions in the field of myology. All other attendees had the opportunity to showcase their work through poster presentations. The IIM meeting 2022 was also part of an advanced training event, which included dedicated round tables and a training session of Advanced Myology on the morning of 23 October, reserved for students under 35 enrolled in the training school, receiving a certificate of attendance. This course proposed lectures and roundtable discussions coordinated by internationally outstanding speakers on muscle metabolism, pathophysiological regeneration and emerging therapeutic approaches for muscle degenerations. As in past editions, all participants shared their results, opinions, and perspectives in understanding developmental and adult myogenesis with novel insights into muscle biology in pathophysiological conditions. We report here the abstracts of the meeting that describe the basic, translational, and clinical research and certainly contribute to the vast field of myology in an innovative and original way.

Abdimas Penyuluhan Penggunaan Alat Elektrolisa Air Kepada Siswa SMA Bidang IPA Pelita Bangsa

Clean water has good quality water hardness and has been consumed for human mineral needs, containing the chemical elements of the mineral metals Sodium (Na), calcium (Ca), Chloride (Cl), nitrate (Na), magnesium (Mg), and Sulfate (Su) in units of milli-grams (mg) dissolved in a sample of Le Mineral rand drinking water in a 330 ml serving plastic bottle. In scientific outreach service activities for class XII students in the science field at SMA Pelita Bangsa Pamulang, a water electrolysis device was carried out with the aim of knowing the description of the precipitate of metal mineral chemical elements or chemical pollutant elements dissolved in groundwater samples. The methodology for community service counseling is carried out by using a water electrolysis device on groundwater samples to determine the description of the precipitate of metal mineral chemical elements or chemical pollutant elements dissolved in groundwater samples. The process of water electrolysis was carried out on groundwater samples in a glass container of water absorbing electrical energy with a capacity of 94.0 volts ac and an electric current of 0.287 amperes for a processing time of two (2) minutes. As a result of the electrolysis process of the groundwater samples, brown, orange and blackish precipitate occurred which indicated that there was a measure of the chemical element content of the dissolved metal minerals in the groundwater sample.

Four guiding principles for effective trainee-led STEM community engagement through high school outreach.

To address ongoing academic achievement gap, there is a need for more school-university partnerships promoting early access to STEM education. During summer 2020, members of our institute initiated QBio-EDGE (Quantitative Biology-Empowering Diversity and Growth in Education), an outreach program for high schools in Los Angeles. In the hope of contributing to increasing diversity in academia, QBio-EDGE aims to make STEM education more accessible for students from historically excluded communities by exposing them to scientific research and diverse scientist role models. This program is led by early career researchers (ECRs), i.e., undergraduate, graduate, and postdoctoral researchers. In our first year, the outreach activities took place during virtual learning, presenting challenges and opportunities within the program development. Here, we provide a practical guide outlining our outreach efforts, key factors we considered in the program development, and hurdles we overcame. Specifically, we describe how we assembled our diverse team, how we established trusting partnerships with participating schools, and how we designed engaging student-centered, problem-based classroom modules on quantitative biology and computational methods applications to understand living systems. We also discuss the importance of increased institutional support. We hope that this may inspire researchers at all career stages to engage with local schools by participating in science outreach, specifically in quantitative and computational fields. We challenge institutions to actively strengthen these efforts.

Paleontology-themed comics and graphic novels, their potential for scientific outreach, and the bilingual graphic novel EUROPASAURUS – Life on Jurassic Islands

Abstract. The first part of this article gives an overview of influential comics and graphic novels on paleontological themes from the last 12 decades. Through different forms of representation and narration, both clichés and the latest findings from paleontological research are presented in comics in an entertaining way for a broad audience. As a result, comics are often chroniclers of 20th century scientific history and contemporary paleoart. The second part of this article deals with the development of the bilingual graphic novel EUROPASAURUS – Life on Jurassic Islands, which communicates knowledge from universities and museums to the public. This non-verbal comic presents the results of a paleontological research project on a Late Jurassic terrestrial biota from northern Germany in both a scientifically accurate and an easily understandable way, based on the way of life of various organisms and their habitats. Insights into the creative process, the perception of the book by the public, and ideas on how to raise public awareness of such a project are discussed.

Deficits in Accessibility across Field Research Stations for Scientists with Disabilities and/or Chronic Illness, and Proposed Solutions.

Equity and inclusivity in STEM research has become a larger topic of discussion in recent years; however, researchers and scientists with disabilities and/or chronic illnesses are often missing from these conversations. Further, while field research is a major research component for some STEM disciplines, it is unclear what accessibility barriers or accommodations exist across the field sciences. Field research can sometimes involve harsh environments, topography, and weather that present challenges to those with disabilities and/or chronic illnesses. A large and coinciding obstacle standing in the way of field research accessibility is the ableism present across science and academia, resulting in and from a lack of prioritization of attention and funding from universities and institutions. Biological field stations have been shown to be valuable not only as infrastructure for field-based research, but also as providing resources toward the scientific education of students and scientific outreach initiatives for the general public. As such, biological field stations are perfectly positioned to reduce barriers in research inclusion and accessibility for students and scientists with disabilities and/or chronic illnesses. The current work presents the results of a survey meant to inventory the presence or absence of accessible infrastructure across field stations, with responses spanning six countries and 24 US states. Our results highlight a number of accessibility deficits in areas such as accessible entrances, kitchens, and bathrooms. Our results suggest that (1) biological field stations have significant variability in accessibility with significant deficits, especially in non-public-facing buildings used primarily by staff and researchers, and (2) field stations would benefit from an increase in federal funding opportunities to expedite their progress toward compliance with Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) standards. We propose potential solutions to field work infrastructure spanning a range of financial costs, with emphasis on the point that efforts toward accessibility do not require an "all-or-nothing" approach, and that any step toward accessibility will make field stations more inclusive. Additionally, we further suggest that federal funding sources, such as the NSF and NIH, as well as university leadership, should consider broadening diversity initiatives to promote the continuation of, and increased accessibility of, university-affiliated field stations.

21 cm H-Line using Radio Telescope

Abstract: The value of the horn antenna has been demonstrated in radio astronomy applications. The usage of horn antennas is restricted to professional applications solely due to expensive and complicated technology. A low-cost, simple-to-build horn antenna for 21cm H-line applications has been designed. It can be used for outreach and popularization efforts in science at the high school and college levels as well as for educational purposes. The horn has an aperture measuring 75.4 x 58.7 cm2 and a gain of roughly 20 dB. The LNA and BPF, SDR, and signal processing software make up the receiver system. The project can be advanced to test out the rotation curve discovery for applications such as charting our galaxy and interferometry.

Priming the future leaders for scientific and technological exploits: Zikas International School, Kaduna, Nigeria, welcomes PEAN for the Science Incubation Project

The Pharmafluence Education Advancement Network (PEAN), a Nigerian youth-led organization aimed at promoting access to quality education, organized a science outreach program for high school students dubbed Science Incubation Project (SIP) 1.0. The outreach event was sponsored by the Biochemical Society, UK, and had the participation of PEAN committee members, school staff, media reporters and 136 students. The objective of the outreach event was to ignite a passion for science among the students and improve their reading culture and mentorship and encourage a healthy lifestyle. The program involved two experiments: making DNA bracelets and the Dice Roll Choices game of epigenetics, which demonstrated the impact of lifestyle choices on genetic labelling.

Geodiversity and geoheritage research: valuable resources for Earth Science outreach and sustainable development

Abstract This contribution is aimed at framing the book ‘Visages of geoheritage and geodiversity’ in the context of relevant initiatives promoted by international bodies within the field of Earth Sciences.

Talk To A Scientist: a Framework for a Webinar-Based Outreach Program for Scientists to Engage with K-12 Students.

Science outreach programs that enable real-time interactions between scientists and school-aged children are known to positively impact learning gains and students' perceptions of scientists. To expand K-12 outreach by scientists, it is important to build structured outreach programs which offer scientists well-defined opportunities, while providing school students regular and diverse interactions. We describe Talk To A Scientist, a science outreach platform in India, where scientists use a webinar-based approach to share their research with K-12 students (6 to 16 years). Running weekly for nearly 3 years, Talk To A Scientist has hosted over 100 live interactions, with a wide reach to participants across the country. Here, we outline the framework used to build Talk To A Scientist and discuss key gains, considerations, and challenges in the development of the program. We also suggest potential adaptations with which this framework can serve as a guideline for the implementation of similar K-12 outreach programs across diverse country- and context-specific settings.

Scanning holotypes from the Vertebrate Paleontology Collection at the Museu Paraense Emilio Goeldi (Brazil): Tools for research and science outreach

AbstractThe scanning of paleontological collections is increasingly important for morphological studies and science outreach. In addition to ensuring data sharing, digitization contributes to preserving morphological information in case of damage to the original specimens. In this communication, we aim to report digital versions of the holotypes from the Vertebrate Paleontology Collection at the Museu Paraense Emilio Goeldi, Brazil. For this purpose, eighteen holotypes of Early/Middle Miocene Teleostei from Pirabas Formation, northern Brazil, were scanned using microtomography, and cybertypes were proposed. The CT‐Scan data were stored in a virtual repository, can be freely accessed, and are available for future studies on the morphology of these specimens. Furthermore, these specimens are tiny and fragile, and digital versions can be an alternative to safely handling them. Finally, the digitization of important specimens, at least of holotypes, needs to be a standard practice in museum collections over the next years.

Multimodal analysis of humour as an engagement strategy in YouTube research dissemination videos

Science popularisation has received widespread interest in the last decade. With the rapid evolution from print to digital modes of information, science outreach has been seen to cross educational boundaries and become integrated into wider contexts such as YouTube. One of the main features of the success of research dissemination videos on YouTube is the ability to establish a meaningful connection with the audience. In this regard, humour may be used as a strategy for engagement. Most studies on humour, however, are conducted solely from a purely linguistic perspective, obviating the complex multimodal reality of communication in the digital era. Considering this background, we set out to explore how humour is used from a multimodal point of view as an engagement strategy in YouTube research dissemination. We selected three research dissemination videos from three distinct YouTube channels to fulfil this aim. After an initial viewing, 22 short humoristic fragments that were particularly engaging were selected. These fragments were further explored using Multimodal Analysis - Video (MAV)[1], a multi-layered annotation tool that allows for fine-grained multimodal analysis. Humoristic strategies and contextual features were explored, as well as two main types of modes: embodied and filmic. Results show the presence of 9 linguistic strategies to introduce humour in YouTube science dissemination videos which are always accompanied by heterogeneous combinations of embodied and filmic modes that contribute to fully achieving humoristic purposes. [1] Multi-layer annotation software used to describe the use of semiotic modes in video files. By using this software, researchers may analyse, for instance, how gestures, gaze, proxemics, head movements, facial expression, etc. are employed in a given file.

Maximizing Science Outreach on Facebook: An Analysis of Scientists’ Communication Strategies in Taiwan

The internet, and especially social media platforms, offer scientists new opportunities to connect with a broader public. While many studies have focused on science communication on Twitter, surprisingly few have analyzed how scientists use Facebook, even though it is an essential platform for the general public in many countries. A possible explanation for this lack of research is that scientists keep their Facebook profiles separate from their work life and are more active on Twitter in their professional roles. Our study challenges this assumption by focusing on Taiwan as a peculiar case. Due to the local culture, Twitter is less popular there, and scientists are more active on Facebook, even in their professional roles. In our study, we analyzed 35 public pages of scientists on Facebook and assessed the factors explaining the reach of their communication using content analysis in combination with a multilevel model that allowed us to test predictors on the page level, such as the number of fans, in combination with predictors on the post level, such as the complexity of the language used. Our study shows that Facebook can play an influential role in science outreach. To effectively communicate with the audience on Facebook, it is best to use strategies that appeal to new and existing followers. Posts that address current issues and include opinions are likely to be shared widely, while humor or personal self-disclosure is likely to engage the existing audience. Our study contributes to the current debate about alternatives to Twitter in science communication.

Documenting butterflies with the help of citizen science in Darjeeling-Sikkim Himalaya, India

The availability of information on the distribution and occurrence of different species in a landscape is crucial to developing an informed conservation and management plan, however such information in the Himalaya is often limited. Citizen science, which builds on the knowledge and interest of communities to contribute to science, can be a solution to this problem. In this study, we used butterflies as a model taxon in the Darjeeling-Sikkim Himalaya which shows how citizen science can aid in documenting biodiversity. The study employed both citizen science, and researcher-survey approaches to collect data, and the collective effort resulted in 407 species, which is the highest by any study carried out in the region. Results show that citizen science can be helpful as a supplementary tool for data collection in biodiversity documentation projects, and can aid in adding to the diversity and distribution records of species, including those that are unique, rare, seasonal, and nationally protected. Citizen science outreach was used to muster potential participants from the local community to participate in the study. Thus, it is advisable for citizen science projects to find means to recruit a larger pool of contributors, and citizen science outreach can be key to their success.

Experimenting at an outreach science lab versus at school—Differences in students' basic need satisfaction, intrinsic motivation, and flow experience

AbstractAll over the world, educational science outreach programs in which students can perform laboratory work have been developed. A common goal of these programs is to counteract students' decreasing motivation in STEM education. In Germany, several outreach science labs have been established over the last 20 years. It is assumed that the characteristics of these labs foster students' basic need satisfaction and qualities of motivation such as intrinsic motivation and flow. However, research in this field often lacks comparisons of motivation between the learning environments outreach science lab and school. Thus, the current study investigated students' perceived need satisfaction (relatedness, competence, and autonomy), intrinsic motivation, and flow experience during experimentation at an outreach science lab (n = 231) and at school (n = 203). We found that experimentation in the two different learning environments resulted in a comparable degree of perceived autonomy and intrinsic motivation. However, differences in perceived relatedness, competence, and flow experience were found in favor of the students who experimented at the lab. Thus, visiting outreach science labs is especially beneficial for students' perception of relatedness, effectiveness, and enjoyment during experimentation.

Exploring Collaborative Approaches to Indigenous Science Outreach Programs on Turtle Island: A Scoping Review

Introduction: Past and recent calls to action (e.g., Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada, 2015) call for inclusion of Indigenous Peoples, including residential school Survivors, in all stages/phases of program development and education. Objective(s): This scoping review identifies and maps the extent (i.e., level) of collaboration reported in published accounts of science outreach programming targeting Indigenous youth on Turtle Island (North America) between 2010 and 2022. Additionally, this review lists and describes program evaluation methods reported. Methods: Arksey and O’Malley’s (2005) scoping review methodology was applied. Education Resources Information Center (ERIC), Education Research Complete (ERC), Academic Search Premier (EBSCO), CBCA Complete (ProQuest), SocINDEX (EBSCO), Google Scholar, and Google were searched for science outreach programs targeting Indigenous youth on Turtle Island between 2010 and 2022. Each program’s process and methods were identified. A scoring schema was developed in collaboration with community members to map these data by extent of community collaboration (three categories; 0 = none, 1 = some, 2 = full). Results: In total, 20 programs were identified, and 12 (n = 12/20) programs met criteria for full collaboration during program development and implementation, while eight (n = 8/20) did not. Of the 12 programs, six (n = 6/20) programs reported collaborative evaluation. Diverse evaluation methods were reported and are described. Moreover, 15 (n = 15/20) programs were identified as taking place post 2015, with four (n = 4/15) being Canadian programs. Conclusions: A total of 20 STEM programs targeting Indigenous youth on Turtle Island were identified in this review. Although 60% of the programs reported collaboration during development and implementation of programming, only 30% collaborated with community during program evaluation. These findings are supportive of the need for ongoing education and research on collaboration with Indigenous communities at all stages of intervention/program development.

A low-cost smartphone fluorescence microscope for research, life science education, and STEM outreach

Much of our understanding of cell and tissue development, structure, and function stems from fluorescence microscopy. The acquisition of colorful and glowing images engages and excites users ranging from seasoned microscopists to STEM students. Fluorescence microscopes range in cost from several thousand to several hundred thousand US dollars. Therefore, the use of fluorescence microscopy is typically limited to well-funded institutions and biotechnology companies, research core facilities, and medical laboratories, but is financially impractical at many universities and colleges, primary and secondary schools (K-12), and in science outreach settings. In this study, we developed and characterized components that when used in combination with a smartphone or tablet, perform fluorescence microscopy at a cost of less than $50 US dollars per unit. We re-purposed recreational LED flashlights and theater stage lighting filters to enable viewing of green and red fluorophores including EGFP, DsRed, mRFP, and mCherry on a simple-to-build frame made of wood and plexiglass. These devices, which we refer to as glowscopes, were capable of 10 µm resolution, imaging fluorescence in live specimens, and were compatible with all smartphone and tablet models we tested. In comparison to scientific-grade fluorescence microscopes, glowscopes may have limitations to sensitivity needed to detect dim fluorescence and the inability to resolve subcellular structures. We demonstrate capability of viewing fluorescence within zebrafish embryos, including heart rate, rhythmicity, and regional anatomy of the central nervous system. Due to the low cost of individual glowscope units, we anticipate this device can help to equip K-12, undergraduate, and science outreach classrooms with fleets of fluorescence microscopes that can engage students with hands-on learning activities.