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!