Who will find these resources useful?
• the scientist interested in involvement in K-14 education and Public Outreach (E/PO);

• the NASA E/PO manager who is tasked with E/PO program design and providing meaningful ways for scientists to contribute to E/PO efforts; and

• the educator interested in gaining perspective about working with scientists in E/PO

What are these resources?*
These resources include several papers and presentations by authors who have significant experience at the interface between the realms of scientific research and K-12 education and public outreach (E/PO). The resources fall into 6 Categories:

1. Making the Case for Scientist Involvement in Education and Public Outreach
2. The Roles of Scientists in Education and Public Outreach
3. Guidance for E/PO Program and Proposal Planning
4. Guidance for E/PO Product Development
5. Professional Development Opportunities for Scientists and E/PO Leaders in Education
6. Access to the E/PO Community

* Most of thsee resources were generated at the Space Science Institute (SSI) of Boulder, Colorado. Please contact camorrow@colorado.edu with comments or requests for further information. Please let us know whether what we have provided has been of value and/or how we can serve you better. (Note: Although some images and graphics may appear imperfect on your computer monitor, all PDF files should provide a suitable printout.)

1. Making the Case for Scientist Involvement in Education and Public Outreach

Scientists’ Involvement in Education and Public Outreach: Making the Case This is a 30-slide presentation by Dr. Cherilynn A. Morrow that contains advocacy statements by Bruce Alberts (President of the National Academy of Sciences), Dan Goldin (former NASA Administrator), and Rita Colwell (former Director of the NSF). It also includes many other diagrams and figures drawn from several of the papers described below. A List of Slide Titles and Annotations for each slide are also available. Contact camorrow@colorado.edu.

Note: A PowerPoint version of this presentation is available here.

The Joy of Solar Physicists in Science Education by Cherilynn A. Morrow. An invited plenary talk prepared for the 34th Meeting of the Solar Physics Division Laurel, MD June 2003

Note: A PowerPoint version of this presentation is available here.

Education & Public Outreach for Ordinary Planetary Scientists by Heidi B. Hammel. A presentation to the Division for Planetary Sciences by the 2002 Sagan medallist.

Note: A PowerPoint version of this presentation is available here.

Scientific Elites and Illiterates by Dr. David L. Goodstein. A 10-page paper that makes a persuasive case for scientist involvement in education. Goodstein is a physics professor at CalTech. This one is for the skeptics!

What are the Similarities between Scientific Research and Science Education Reform?
by Dr. Cherilynn Morrow. This 7-page paper offers a direct analogy between the process of scientific research and a process of teaching science that is consistent with modern science education reform. The “Monotillation of Traxoline” is reprinted here for your enjoyment

2. The Roles of Scientists in Education and Public Outreach (E/PO)

The Diversity of Roles for Scientists in K-14 Education and Public Outreach
by Dr. Cherilynn A. Morrow. This 3-page paper includes an updated 2-D matrix of E/PO roles for scientists. The paper raises awareness of the broad diversity of roles scientists can play in E/PO besides giving presentations in classrooms or other public settings.

Improving Science Education: The Role of Scientists by Dr. Rodger Bybee and Dr. Cherilynn Morrow. This 3-page paper was published in the Newsletter of the Education Forum of the American Physical Society (Fall 1998). The original matrix of E/PO roles for scientists was published here.

The Role of Scientist-Educator Partnerships in Improving Science Education: by Dr. Cherilynn Morrow. This 2-page paper summarizes the keynote talk prepared for the Fulbright Symposium on scientist-educator partnerships that was held in conjuction with the IAU Bioastronomy Conference at Hamilton Island, Australia in July 2002. It argues that successful partnerships elicit complementary talents and expertise from each partner and offer the opportunity for each to develop additional capabilities. Good partners must endeavor to navigate the natural challenges and cultural differences that may arise between them in a way that is responsible to the ultimate needs of the learners.

Profiles of Scientists Involved in Education and Public Outreach, by Discipline :
These one-page profiles feature scientists engaged in a diversity of roles in education and public outreach. These scientists serve as role models for other scientists in education. If you have suggestions for scientists who could be profiled contact morrow@spacescience.org.

Solar Scientists

Planetary Scientists

Astronomers

Earth Scientists

3. Guidance for E/PO Program Planning and Proposal Writing

A Framework for Planning Education and Public Outreach Activities Associated with Scientific Research Programs by Dr. Cherilynn A. Morrow. This 3-page paper offers a conceptual framework that may be useful in helping to identify and organize suitable elements of E/PO plans associated with scientific research programs and NASA flight project proposals. It includes the 3-Bubble Venn diagram that represents the full spectrum of science communication.

The Explanatory Guide to the NASA Office of Space Science Education and Public Outreach Evaluation Criteria. This document offers a list of indicators used by proposal review committees to determine whether an E/PO segment has lived up to the Evaluation Criteria NASA Office of Space Science has developed for E/PO proposal segments of scientific research proposals. The Guide begins with a very useful FAQ that addresses many of the questions scientists have while preparing an E/PO proposal for NASA.

4. Guidance for E/PO Product Development

So You Want to Make a Science Educational CD-ROM?: This document, prepared by Dr. Stephen M. Pompea of Pompea & Associates and Dr. Cherilynn A. Morrow, provides guidance on the process of developing and disseminating useful and valued CD-ROMs in support of science, math, and engineering education in classrooms, museums, and elsewhere. Avoid your CD-ROM ending up as a drink coaster!

Misconceptions Scientists Often Have about the National Science Education Standards by Cherilynn A. Morrow. This 11-page paper exposes and addresses seven misconceptions scientists often have about the National Research Council’s (NRC’s) National Science Education Standards (NSES).

5. Professional Development Opportunities for Scientists and E/PO Leaders in Education

Workshops for Scientists and Engineers on Education and Public Outreach: This paper, by Dr. Cherilynn Morrow and Dr. Paul Dusenbery, is based on a talk given in a space science education session at COSPAR 2003 in Houston, TX. It describes the design, implementation, and evaluation results of workshops, convened by the Space Science Institute, for scientists, engineers, and E/PO leaders in education.

5. Access to the E/PO Community

NASA/OSS EPO Support Organizations: The Space Science Institute is one of several organizations charged by NASA/OSS with building connections between the EPO and research communites. Follow this link to SSI's Broker/Facilitator page, and from there to links to other EPO Support organizations.

EPO Partners: An annotated list of potential EPO partners in various categories.