Does your organization currently - or in the future want to - involve nano researchers in doing outreach to family audiences at a science museum or other informal science setting? The RISE group is offering a professional development workshop for NISE Network partners involved in training and preparing researchers for volunteering at education/outreach events in informal education settings, or who have plans to begin doing so.
PROGRAM OVERVIEW:
The Sharing Science Workshop & Practicum (SSW&P) is a professional development program that your museum or university can provide for nano researchers that prepares them for interacting successfully with family audiences in free-choice settings, using already-vetted NanoDays hands-on demos as a starting point. The SSW&P Implementation Workshop will take place from Friday, November 14, 2014 at 2pm through Sunday, November 16, 2014 at 12pm at the Museum of Science, Boston. During the Implementation Workshop, participants will observe how the SSW&P is implemented at MOS with graduate students from local research center partners. They will work out ways to plan and adapt the program for implementation at their home institutions. Airfare, hotel, and some meals will be provided, along with take-home workshop guides and resources.
APPLICATION PROCESS:
Similar to what you may have seen for other NISE Network opportunities, we ask that you complete a short application form on SurveyGizmo. Applications must be submitted online by August 20, 2014. To assist in preparing your application, you will find below a word doc copy of the online application. The actual application must be filled out online at this link: http://www.surveygizmo.com/s3/1743646/2014-RISE-Sharing-Science-Workshop-Application
ELIGIBILITY:
Good candidates for the implementation workshop meet these criteria:
- Museum staff involved in outreach with University partners; Museum staff involved in volunteer training; or University staff involved in preparing graduate students to work in outreach.
- Able to attend the workshop in its entirety (Friday, November 14 at 2pm through Sunday, November 16 at 12pm, exclusive of travel time).
- Have support from home institution and supervisor to attend the Implementation Workshop.
- Can commit to scheduling and carrying-out the SSW&P at home institution with minimum of four grad student/researcher participants by March 31, 2015.
- Willing to participate in program evaluation by completing questionnaires about the workshop experience and the implementation process; and facilitating collection of feedback data from participants of the SSW&P.
- Planning to apply for a physical NanoDays kit and host a 2015 NanoDays event.
- Working at an institution in the United States.
ABOUT THE SSW&P:
The Sharing Science Workshop and Practicum for early career researchers aims to:
- Enhance their science communication skills
- Engage their interest in education and outreach, and
- Prepare them for providing effective and rewarding education outreach experiences
Designed to accommodate 4 - 24 participants at a time, the Sharing Science Workshop & Practicum can be delivered in one day or two half-days. Ideally, the SSW&P will occur a few weeks in advance of a major outreach event, such as NanoDays or a community science festival. This timing provides participants with a follow-on opportunity to apply and reinforce their skills in a new context, often in collaboration with the mentoring organization, with familiar staff support and supervision.
The Sharing Science Workshop & Practicum helps to build stronger ties between museums, universities, researchers, educators, and the community. University faculty members appreciate the mentoring provided for their graduate students in science communication and outreach, and students appreciate the opportunity to contribute their knowledge in meaningful ways. Workshop graduates often continue to volunteer at science museums, schools, and community centers, forging longer-term relationships and bringing back new ideas and experiences. Young science museums visitors in particular benefit from authentic face-to-face experiences with young scientists who typically bring greater diversity to the museum’s cadre of long-term volunteers.
QUESTIONS?
Please contact Carol Lynn Alpert ([email protected]) or Karine Thate ([email protected]) if you have any questions about this workshop opportunity.