Why is learning about K-12 Education and Public Outreach important to scientists?
Bruce Alberts, president of the National Academy of Sciences, is on record as a strong advocate of scientists becoming more actively and effectively engaged in K-12 science education reform. In addition, research directorates of funding agencies like NASA and NSF are increasingly encouraging (and in some cases requiring) the integration of science and education and greater scientist involvement in EPO. For example, every NASA Office of Space Science flight project proposal is now required to include an Education and Public Outreach segment budgeted at 1-2% of mission cost. The NSF Geosciences Directorate recently published a strategy for education and is also strongly encouraging the scientists it funds to become more involved in EPO activities. Our workshops can be very valuable in support of your EPO efforts. We can assist you with forging an appropriate link between the science and EPO components of your professional activities and with identifying appropriate EPO roles for scientis
