Sharing Chemistry with Your Community through Educational

Chapter 10

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Sharing Chemistry with Your Community through Educational Outreach ACS Student Members Flourish while Inspiring Others with Hands-On Science Activities Sarah B. Luesse* Department of Chemistry, Southern Illinois University Edwardsville, Edwardsville, Illinois 62026-1652 *E-mail: [email protected]

Educational outreach provides an enriching experience for ACS student members, allowing them to develop professionally while serving the community. By providing hands-on experiences with science, our chemistry undergraduates become productive, capable ACS members who share their passion for science while inspiring a future generation of STEM students.

Introduction Can you recall the first science demonstration that you ever watched? What was the first hands-on experience with chemistry that you remember? Did it happen in school, at the mall, at a museum, or on your own kitchen counter? What ignited your desire to understand how the world works? Strong ACS student members are well-rounded individuals who are passionate about the role of science in their lives. This enthusiasm drives their desire to share experiences in science with others in our community. At Southern Illinois University Edwardsville (SIUE), we cultivate an environment that allows these students to grow as chemistry professionals and leaders by stressing participation in educational outreach activities. ACS student chapters are focused on the development and engagement of undergraduate chemistry majors. Each chapter acquires its own personality, with activities and emphasis that cater to the interests and needs of the local members.

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However, these chapters tend to embrace the same general goals of professional development and service, essential for producing successful ACS members. The Southern Illinois University (SIUE) Chemistry Club is an ACS Student Affiliates Chapter, composed of chemistry majors and science enthusiasts. While many members are undergraduate chemistry students, quite a number of pre-professional students engage in our group. Our Chemistry Club has an open door policy, allowing anyone to get involved by attending meetings and participating in scheduled events without a membership fee. We ask that those who participate enjoy chemistry and have the desire to share their interest in science. Many students, introduced to the goals and benefits of the ACS through these activities, go on to be chemistry majors and active ACS student members. We consider the goals of the SIUE Chemistry Club to be professional development, strengthening members’ knowledge of chemistry, community engagement, outreach to promote science education, and building a strong community of peers. While individual goals targeting activities in these areas are essential, a focus on outreach efforts to promote science education in our community has proven to be the greatest catalyst for building strong student ACS members. Outreach endeavors provide avenues for professional development and service opportunities in the neat package of engaging, hands-on science activities.

Outreach Activities That Serve the Community Educational outreach provides a scaffold for developing well-rounded ACS student members. Specific types of outreach activities often are dictated by location and resources; what works best in one community may not be right for another. At SIUE, we have the benefit of a well-stocked room of acquired educational resources, along with several faculty who are commited to outreach and are active in our local ACS section. Our outreach takes several forms through on-campus activities, programs in support of local ACS educational events, and team-based lessons presented in local schools. On-Campus Activities Club members benefit from their involvement in on-campus outreach events, targeted at either fellow students or the children of these students. Sometimes the aim is to educate undergraduate peers, while other events provide enrichment experiences for the next generation. These events provide opportunities for our members to share their enthusiasm for science and refine their communication skills by speaking to the non-science community about the role of chemistry in society. Educational activities aimed at undergraduate peers often focus on the science of everyday life. This may involve informational booths regarding the availability of flu shots and the underlying science. It could include an introduction to the concepts of green chemistry, along with providing samples of green cleaning agents. Or, it may be a simple hands-on activity at a university-wide majors fair, showing the fun side of chemistry by making slime or a milk rainbow. 110

Mio and Benvenuto; Building and Maintaining Award-Winning ACS Student Member Chapters Volume 2: Specific Program Areas ACS Symposium Series; American Chemical Society: Washington, DC, 2016.


National Chemistry Week events normally provide an opportunity to connect the campus community with chemistry concepts that they take for granted. These are enriching opportunities for undergraduate members to take a leadership role in planning and executing an event, while enhancing their knowledge by delving into a specific chemistry topic. The 2013 NCW theme “Energy: Now and Forever” gave us the chance to partner with the SIUE Solar Car Racing team to provide a broad educational program in the lounge of our campus student center. An annual outreach activity that predates our student chapter is the William J. Probst Memorial Lecture, now in its 40th year. Our Chemistry Club has taken responsibility for seeking funding and organizing parts of this event for the past several years, bringing in such noted speakers as Dr. Mark von Itzstein, Dr. Christopher C. Cummins, Dr. Erick M. Carreira, Dr. Gregory H. Robinson, and Dr. Richard B. Silverman. These internationally known speakers have each given a plenary lecture for a general campus audience, providing an experience that educates our community about the significance of chemical research to everyday life. In addition to leadership skills that come with organizing such an event, our student members have the opportunity to discuss their undergraduate research with these award-winning researchers. Due to the time required for scheduling a speaker, securing funding, publicizing, and other planning aspects, this type of event would be very challenging for a new student chapter. However, it is a great activity for an established student chapter, working with the support of their department and institution. No matter what other educational outreach activities are planned, few are as rewarding as those programs that target preschool and elementary students. The excited reactions to demonstrations and the joy that comes from discovery are inspiring. Curiosity is a quality valued in every scientist; our members are reminded of the importance of curiosity as they interact with these inquisitive children. These on-campus events normally are aimed at working with the children of our SIUE students. A favorite event is the Science Carnival, combining handson science activities with a chemistry magic show. Engaging with Local ACS Sections Local ACS sections provide tremendous resources for undergraduate student members to engage with the broader chemistry community and participate in large outreach programs. One benefit is that participation often takes little planning on the part of our chapter. These events are often looking for volunteers to show up and help during a scheduled time, without designing the activity, so they are a great introductory outreach events for our members. Yearly, our undergraduate members volunteer in the ACS booth at the Illinois State Fair, to participate in chemistry demonstration shows and hands-on activities for families visiting the fair. By the end of the day, Chemistry Club members are often confident enough to perform part of the demo shows on their own. Additionally, members assist when our local section runs a Boy Scout Merit Badge event and a Battle of the Burets contest. In addition to outreach aimed at middle school and high school students, participation in local ACS events provides our undergraduate students with introductions to local professional ACS members. This initial networking 111


provides our members with role models and a broader understanding of the possible career paths for ACS scientists.


Cougars Volunteering for Science (CVS) The Chemistry Club at SIUE takes an active role in 5th-6th grade STEM education at local schools in the St. Louis Metro area. As our school mascot is the cougar, our Cougars Volunteering for Science (CVS) program started its journey in 2006 as the primary outreach branch of our undergraduate ACS Affiliates group. Seed money to start this program came from an ACS CISA grant. This sub-group of the SIUE Chemistry Club was inspired by the Vanderbilt Student Volunteers for Science (VSVS) program (1). Many of our initial lessons were acquired from their extensive online resources (2). The goal of this group is to provide a series of interactive science lessons, delivered in the classroom of local schools. Each team of three to four members is assigned to a local 5th or 6th grade classroom teacher. The team visits that local classroom three times during a semester to present hands-on lessons, aimed to provide the class with fun, interactive exposure to science. Compact kits containing all necessary materials, including handouts and worksheets, are prepared in large storage tubs for ease of transport. In consideration of safety issues, laboratory goggles are also provided for use during these lessons. Lessons typically take 45 minutes, with additional time for travel, set-up, clean-up, and student questions. This amounts to a two hour commitment from the team members for each session. Teams that form through our CVS program provide a close-knit peer group of members, who practice teamwork, develop their understanding of chemistry, and have the chance to serve our community through these weekly lessons. While students prepare and present experiments, their communication skills develop and they learn to effectively provide instruction, encouragement, and feedback to their audience. They learn to think on their feet when the experiment does not go as planned or when their young audience takes the discussion on an unexpected tangent. Our CVS teams are organized at the start of each semester. We have two coordinators, in charge of selecting the lessons, compiling a manual for participants, preparing materials, as well as contacting and scheduling visits with local teachers. Volunteers commit to a three visit assignment in a single classroom, with a team of peers. Team leaders are responsible for group transportation, making sure all materials are ready for the lessons, and providing a point of contact for the classroom teacher. In addition to the leadership skills inherent in these activities, our student members also improve their basic professional skills related to time management and personal responsibility. What do the grade school participants get out of these activities? Liquid nitrogen ice cream, fun with dry ice, and a sense of how chemistry is part of their daily lives are among some of the benefits. In addition to engaging, hands-on experiences with chemistry, these outreach activities provide local school children with positive STEM-related role models (3). One team visits the same classroom for all three lessons, providing the opportunity for student members to get to know 112 Mio and Benvenuto; Building and Maintaining Award-Winning ACS Student Member Chapters Volume 2: Specific Program Areas ACS Symposium Series; American Chemical Society: Washington, DC, 2016.


children in the class. In effect, this CVS educational outreach provides crucial role models for our grade school participants. Through these undergraduate mentors, they see someone that bridges the gap between the teachers and their peers, the image of an older sibling they can aspire to be (4). Students may encounter a broader picture of the scientific community by participating in lessons given by someone who is different from their classroom teacher, someone they identify with through gender, race, ethnicity, or socioeconomic status (5). Each year, our program varies due to the specific interests of our active student members who plan the events. However, promoting science education in the community is always a primary focus for our chapter. Experiences with educational outreach in our community provide avenues for student engagement, especially during the first two years of their undergraduate career.

Role of Educational Outreach in Developing Successful Student Members How does educational outreach help fulfill the goal of preparing student members for career success? Below, I highlight several of the key ways our student members grow through their involvement in outreach activities. Communication Skills To become successful ACS members and chemistry professionals, undergraduate chemistry students need opportunities to develop their communication skills. The ability to speak in front of a room full of people is essential for every profession. One common mistake for budding scientists is to overuse scientific terminology in an attempt to seem intelligent and informed, resulting in a complete lack of connection with their audience. Outreach experiences involving children are extremely effective in this regard because the difference in audience age and experience removes the impression of a daunting public presentation, immediately building the confidence of presenters. A vital skill that students in outreach acquire is the experience of adjusting their vocabulary and using examples that speak to their audience. For most, these skills do not come naturally, but are developed through repeated presentation experiences. To be successful in receiving funding, attracting the attention of the broader scientific community, and communicating the importance of their work to the general public, scientists have to learn how to share their science with others, in both technical and non-technical terms. As science and technology become more ingrained in everyday life, the ability of trained scientists to communicate the benefits and dangers of their work with the sometimes skeptical general public will be critical for the advancement of STEM fields. Knowledge of Science Exploring the role that chemistry plays in our everyday lives is critical for reinforcing the fundamentals of science. Too often undergraduate scholars 113



compartmentalize their scientific knowledge as they take discipline-specific college courses, missing the broader STEM connections to be found. Development of problem-solving skills and an understanding of the scientific method is overshadowed by a new organic reaction or that certain metabolic process that they are trying to learn. The introduction and application of basic chemical principles through outreach activities provide undergraduates opportunities to deepen their knowledge and understanding through the combination of hands-on experimentation with foundational chemistry concepts. Students who perform outreach are forced to improve their mastery of fundamentals and make connections between the science in their textbook and that which they experience in everyday life. They do not want to be stumped by a science question from a grade school student, so they delve deeper into these subjects than they have in the classroom. Connections are made and incredibly insightful, vivid examples are developed to help explain the science in terms that the audience understands. These student members stop hiding behind scientific terminology and become confident as they take ownership of the concepts that they present. Through outreach experiences, student members realize the important, but uncomfortable, fact that they will not always have an answer to every question. There is always more to learn and it is alright if you fail – not everything works smoothly the first time. This realization is significant as students move into research experiences and develop as scientists. Building a Community of Peers College is the time many young adults make connections and expand their personal horizons. Often, students make lifelong friends through participation in on-campus student organizations. Learning to work together with peers, especially those of different backgrounds and personalities, is an essential part of the college experience, and an important professional skill to develop. Team-building comes from these educational outreach opportunities, when students must rely on their peers to help complete a demonstration or execute a hands-on activity. A network of chemistry majors with shared experiences builds a community of supportive peers. The process of working with a team to organize and execute an outreach program is an important part of professional growth. Leadership Development of leadership skills accompanies the building of community. Club events are student-driven and planned through the efforts of student leaders. Our four Chemistry Club officers and two CVS coordinators take on much of the planning of events, with the help of a faculty advisor. Monthly meetings provide opportunities to gauge student member interest. Occasionally, other members assume leadership roles for planning a specific event (National Chemistry Week activities, Science Carnival, etc). Students take turns with different roles in outreach activities, sometimes organizing or leading a lesson, and other times deferring to a peer. Even more importantly, they learn what it is like to have 114


others depending on them as they take responsibility and initiative for leading these events.


Service Outreach programs that engage our communities, whether in local schools, through on-campus activities, or as part of larger ACS events, reinforce the importance of service to our community. These experiences provide members with a greater understanding of the responsibility of scientists to better the lives of everyone in society. Community service compels undergraduate members to see beyond their coursework and into the world around them. This will aid them in future careers, as many companies have embraced the importance of community engagement by their workers, and acknowledge the value in the well-rounded experiences of volunteers. Additionally, scholarship programs and professional programs often require evidence of substantial service commitments, which are enthusiastically fulfilled by students who serve in an area of their personal interest. Becoming Role Models and Mentors When asked why they chose to participate in educational outreach, my undergraduate students surprised me. Yes, they mentioned the benefits previously discussed, but the prevailing comments were in regard to their responsibilities as role models and mentors for their audiences. Specifically, concerning outreach programs targeting grade school students, undergraduate participants were motivated by a desire to share their passion for science with these students. The opportunity to make science fun by actively engaging children in hands-on experimentation was a driving force for their involvement in these programs. More than once, I heard that if this experience inspires at least one child to pursue science, then the program was a success. Science in general, and chemistry specifically, has the reputation of being too challenging for many in our communities. By showing young children how fascinating the world is and encouraging them to question the way things work, outreach programs break down barriers and encourage the development of future scientists. Hands-on experiences provide exciting, memorable encounters with chemistry that can inspire the participants and the volunteers who take on the role of mentors. In some ways, outreach volunteers provide exposure to the entertaining side of science, breaking the monotony of traditional lecture-based instruction. Practically, these outreach endeavors often provide several extra sets of hands to provide assistance, making hands-on lessons more manageable for teachers with large classes in our local public schools.

Where Should We Start? Get involved with science education in your community! Encourage members to plan an on-campus educational event or reach out to volunteer in a local school. 115 Mio and Benvenuto; Building and Maintaining Award-Winning ACS Student Member Chapters Volume 2: Specific Program Areas ACS Symposium Series; American Chemical Society: Washington, DC, 2016.


Not every outreach opportunity will fit the personality of your student group, but there is a great need to share your knowledge of chemistry with your community. To build and maintain ACS student members that will become future leaders, emphasize educational outreach. On the surface, these activities check all of the boxes for a program that meets the basic goals of service and professional development. There are many ways this is true, but the heart of these activities matters even more. The more I speak to our ACS student members, the more I understand how seriously they are motivated by their responsibilities as mentors and role models for a future generation of scientists.

References 1. 2. 3.

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Joesten, M. D.; Tellinghuisen, P. C. Vanderbilt Student Volunteers for Science. J. Chem. Educ. 2001, 78, 463–466. VSVS At a Glance. https://studentorg.vanderbilt.edu/vsvs/ (accessed July 2016) Pluth, M. C.; Boettcher, S. W.; Nazin, G. V.; Greenaway, A. L.; Hartle, M. D. Collaboration and Near-Peer Mentoring as a Platform for Sustainable Science Education Outreach. J. Chem. Educ. 2015, 92, 625–630. Wilson, Z. S.; Holmes, L.; Degravelles, K.; Sylvain, M. R.; Batiste, L.; Johnson, M.; McGuire, S. Y.; Pang, S. S.; Warner, I. M. Hierarchical Mentoring: A Transformative Strategy for Improving Diversity and Retention in Undergraduate STEM Disciplines. J. Sci. Educ. Technol. 2012, 21, 148–156. Lee, N. E.; Schreiber, K. G. The Chemistry Outreach Program: Women Undergraduates Presenting Chemistry to Middle School Students. J. Chem. Educ. 1999, 76, 917–918.

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Sharing Chemistry with Your Community through Educational

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