A pedagogical approach to science outreach

PLoS Biol. 2020 Apr 16;18(4):e3000650. doi: 10.1371/journal.pbio.3000650. eCollection 2020 Apr.

Abstract

Encouragement of students across all communities through scientific outreach programs is critical to engaging the next generation, exciting young minds to pursue careers in science and medicine. Herein, we present a uniquely structured and widely influential science outreach program. Founded in 2005, the Duke Chemistry Outreach (DCO) employs a pedagogical approach to outreach that aims to teach its audience a new scientific concept, while instilling a pure enjoyment of science. DCO has performed 583 events reaching over 70,000 participants throughout 2,270 hours, with the majority of events in Durham, the surrounding North Carolinian communities, and across 8 other states. The flexibility and diversity of this outreach program creates a framework amendable for others to adopt in both secondary and higher education settings.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Chemistry / education*
  • Community-Institutional Relations* / economics
  • Humans
  • North Carolina
  • Research Personnel
  • Science / education*
  • Students
  • Universities*

Grants and funding

Funding was provided through internal grants from the Duke Trinity School of Arts and Sciences, Duke Service Learning Department, and Duke Chemistry Department (KSL). External funding was acquired from GlaxoSmithKline and Biogen-iDec RTP through the Duke-Durham Neighborhood Partnership (KSL). The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.