Active outreach efforts are a vital component of any scientific career. Outreach can help scientists obtain grants and perform research and is so important that even the National Science Foundation (NSF) emphasizes a Broader Impacts section in their grant proposal guidelines. Outreach is also a great way to improve your science communication abilities or get experience for non-academic career paths. Plus, outreach can be a lot of fun!
1. (Mostly) on campus:
UMass STEM Ambassadors Program, http://stemambassadorprogram.org/
The UMass STEM Ambassadors program allows graduate students to mentor and teach UMass undergraduates (normally freshman) about science, research, and discussion skills. Two graduate students team up to lead a research group of about 6 students throughout the school year (4 meetings per semester). The graduate mentors also help to design an “outreach product” that the freshman can use to help excite local middle schoolers about science. The STEM AP requires about a 25 hour time commitment per semester. Graduate students can also work with more senior members of the STEM AP program as research assistants, providing invaluable research mentorship on an independent project.
UMass GWIS Outreach Committee, https://blogs.umass.edu/gwis/initiatives-and-programs/outreach/
This isn’t a single opportunity - it’s another on-campus resource for finding and getting involved in diverse outreach projects in the area! Check out the UMass Graduate Women in STEM outreach programs by checking out the blog and signing up to receive emails. Time commitment varies by outreach activity.
UMass Summer Pre-College Program, http://www.umass.edu/summer/precollege.html
The UMass Summer Pre-College Program 6 Week Research Intensive provides opportunities for high school students to get hands on experience living on campus, working on research, and presenting their findings at a final poster session. Graduate students can get involved as day to day mentors, supervising students in the field or the lab to collect data that will supplement your research. The 6 week program occurs during the summer, and culminates in a poster session where high school students present the results of their independent projects. High school students must apply to be accepted into the program, and often come from all over the country to get this experience. This is a great opportunity for graduate students who want more experience as research mentors. The commitment is for the full 6 week duration, although if multiple projects line up in the same lab, graduate students can coordinate to share responsibility and give the student a chance to work on multiple projects.
Eureka!, http://www.umass.edu/worldwide/content/eureka
Eureka! is a nationally recognized educational summer program designed to engage girls 12-18 to explore science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) fields. The program provides access to college campuses and academic STEM experts who act as program facilitators and coaches, as the girls continue through high school -- UMass has hosted a Eureka! program on campus since 2013 and relies on student and faculty volunteers to offer workshops. Workshops can be one morning or afternoon session (2 hours each), or longer (2-3 morning or afternoon sessions). Possible activities with the Eureka! scholars include introducing your research, taking a field trip, showing your lab, teaching how to become scientists, engineers, or scholars. To volunteer (summers only), contact Simi Hoque at @email.
UMass STEM Education resources page, http://k12s.phast.umass.edu/stem/
Links to education programs / resources connected with UMass.
That’s Life [Science] (blog) Outreach Committee, http://thatslifesci.com/
A sub-group of UMass’ own science writing blog that works on in-person outreach events to promote science communication to a broader audience both on campus and in the local community. Activities include hosting events for Girl Scouts to earn life science related badges, organizing science communication workshops, an essay contest for undergraduate guest writers, possible summer workshops, and more! We are open to new ideas for expanding our reach so would love to hear from you! The time commitment varies depending on involvement. If you are interested in getting involved with TLS Outreach, contact Kit Straley (@email) or Laura Hancock (@email).
OEB Science Cafe, http://oebsciencecafe.org
The OEB Science Cafe focuses on engaging members of the community (specifically adults not in academic related jobs) in science topics. The OEB Science Cafe hosts a monthly “Cafe” where a professor or member of the UMass science community gives a relaxed talk to the general public about their research. OEB graduate students are encouraged to get involved especially if you are passionate about science communication! The time commitment varies, but is ~1 hour per week during the semester.
2. Amherst & Pioneer Valley local community:
Dakin Humane Society, https://www.dakinhumane.org/volunteer-opportunities.html
If you love animals there are a variety of ways to get involved at Dakin Humane Society in Leverett or Springfield, MA. Volunteer opportunities include: Foster Parent, Morning Animal, Caregiver, Community Spay/Neuter Clinic Volunteer, Adoption Center Helper, Closing Helper, Day-Time Dog Caregiver, Fundraiser/Friendraiser, and more! Most volunteer positions have a minimum time requirement (that varies depending upon the position) up to a few hours per week. See the Dakin website for more information about Welcome Sessions and ways to volunteer.
The Hitchcock Center for the Environment, http://www.hitchcockcenter.org/
The Hitchcock Center for the Environment located in Amherst is a great place to volunteer and spread your love of nature to people of all ages. The Hitchcock Center has education programs for adults and children aimed at making connections among the human health, ecosystems, and economies. They are looking for people who enjoy nature and who are comfortable with children and adults. Jobs could range from office projects, to work on the trails, in the garden, or light carpentry. The time commitment will vary, but could be up to ~5 hours per week depending on the type of volunteer work.
Kestrel Land Trust, https://www.kestreltrust.org/
Kestrel Land Trust is a regional land trust (headquartered in Amherst) protecting over 25,000 acres of forests, farms, and riverways throughout the Pioneer Valley. Kestrel Land Trust offers a wide variety of volunteer opportunities, including American Kestrel nest box monitoring, trail work, invasive species and habitat management, property monitoring, and community engagement. Detailed descriptions of each volunteer opportunity is listed on their website (above). Time commitment varies per project.
Girls Inc. of Holyoke, https://www.girlsincholyoke.org/
The mission of Girls Inc. is to inspire all girls to be strong, smart, and bold by providing them the opportunity to develop and achieve their full potential. They offer Elementary School Programs that serve girls 5-12 and Middle and High School Programs to serve girls 12-18. The organization is not science-specific, but they run many programs aimed at getting young girls interested in STEM. Girls Inc. volunteers are passionate about encouraging and supporting girls as they navigate the complexities of their young lives. Long-Term Volunteers and Interns work with us for 3 months or longer, donating a minimum of two hours per week. Long-term placements are trained and report to a staff supervisor about specific goals and objectives. Short-Term Volunteers connect with Girls Inc. for one-time projects or workshops. They receive orientation and appropriate training from staff, but their commitment is typically project-based.
The MacDuffie School Science Fair, http://macduffie.org/
The science department at The MacDuffie School in Granby looks for volunteer science fair judges each spring for the 6th-12th grade science fair, which takes place on one morning in April. A typical day judging consists of a brief introduction and training session (to review the judging rubric and Q&A), time to judge projects, followed by lunch. Email science teacher Joe Stella to get involved: @email.
First Generation Tutoring, http://www.performanceproject.org/first-generation1.html also http://www.performanceproject.org/donate--volunteer.html
Participating in the First Generation program of Springfield, MA will allow you to tutor and mentor a first generation high school student. Tutoring includes non-science related topics, but is a great way to show your passion for research and science to students not necessarily interested in science related jobs. The time commitment will vary depending on workload and volunteer position.
Springfield Science Museum, http://www.springfieldmuseums.org/the_museums/science/about
The origins of the Springfield Science Museum go back to 1859, the same year that Charles Darwin published On the Origin of Species. The Museum was established as the Springfield Ethnological and Natural History Museum, “a collection of specimens of natural history and a repository of arts and curiosities, a Museum, in fact, of curious or instructive objects.” Visitors to the Springfield Science Museum will find a world filled with the wonders of natural and physical science. Here are just a few highlights: Dinosaur Hall with a full-size replica of Tyrannosaurus rex, R. E. Phelon African Hall with a huge African elephant, a giraffe, two lions, an ostrich, a rhino and many other animals, and the Solutia Live Animal Center with live fish, insects, reptiles and amphibians in realistic habitats. The Museum actively searches for volunteers who would like to learn more about art or science and who would also enjoy leading Museum tours and programs for children and adults. Time commitment varies.
3. Massachusetts broader community:
Massachusetts Envirothon, http://www.maenvirothon.org/ also http://www.umass.edu/worldwide/content/massachusetts-envirothon
The Massachusetts Envirothon is a program that encourages high school students to go outside and learn about their environment. Students participate in workshops and compete to solve environmental problems. The program stresses the interdependence of human and natural systems and emphasizes hands-on, team-oriented problem solving and community involvement. The main way to volunteer is by participating in the one-day statewide competition usually held in May. There might be other opportunities to volunteer upon request.
National Center for Science Education’s ‘Scientist in the Classroom’ Program, https://ncse.com/scientistinclassroom
The Scientists in the Classroom program is a platform for teachers and scientists to collaborate as colleagues, peers and partners in the scientific enterprise to further science education. While the scientist can act as a resource for the teacher and students, the teacher and students can, in turn, help the scientist better understand how to convey their work to a larger, more diverse, and often skeptical audience. By connecting early career scientists with educators, this program hopes to both enrich middle and high school students’ climate change and evolution education, and to give scientists a better understanding of the challenges faced when teaching these often socially contentious and misunderstood topics. Scientists are expected to visit the classroom twice during the school year, once to share their research and to discuss how they became a scientist, and once to actually “do science” in the classroom. Teacher-Scientist pairs can collaborate beyond this two-visit model as much as they want!
Ecotarium, http://www.ecotarium.org/
The EcoTarium is a unique indoor-outdoor museum in Worcester, MA. Set in an urban oasis, the EcoTarium offers a chance to walk through the treetops, take a thrilling multimedia journey through the galaxy at a digital planetarium, meet wildlife, stroll nature trails, and get hands-on with family-friendly exhibits. Volunteer opportunities include: engaging our guests with informal educational opportunities, answering questions, or staffing an activity table; representing the EcoTarium at community events, festivals, and fairs; in the classrooms, assisting our educators in presenting science programs to school groups; and assisting staff in the care and feeding of our resident animals. Time commitment varies.
Boston City Nature Challenge, https://www.inaturalist.org/projects/city-nature-challenge-2017-boston-area
A “BioBlitz” effort in April using https://www.inaturalist.org/ , they need help identifying species from photographs. Contact Colleen Hitchcock (Twitter: @MACitSci, @science_hitch).
Massachusetts Association of Biology Teachers (MABT), https://www.facebook.com/Massachusetts-Association-of-Biology-Teachers-174420022577830/
The MABT is a group of Massachusetts biology teachers (mostly high school, some middle school) who hold an annual conference in mid-March in Framingham with exhibitor booths and talks/workshops. They would love to have graduate students connect with teachers by either giving a talk/workshop or an exhibitor booth/poster. Time commitment would be one Saturday in March. Contact Jake Barnett (@email) or Brian Dempsey (@email) if you are interested.
Massachusetts Association of Science Teachers (MAST), http://www.massscienceteach.org
The MAST is a group of Massachusetts science teachers (elementary, middle, and high school) who hold an annual conference in early November in Boxborough with exhibitor booths and talks/workshops. They would love to have graduate students connect with teachers by either giving a talk/workshop or an exhibitor booth/poster. Time commitment would be 1-2 days in November. Contact Jake Barnett (@email) if you are interested.
MassBioEd / MassBioTeach, https://www.massbioed.org/educators/bioteach
Hosts some workshops at Amherst and across the state on biotechnology, connecting teachers with researchers and providing biotechnology equipment to schools. Graduate students could get involved with training teachers and/or visiting classrooms through this program.
Amgen Biotechnology Experience (ABE), https://lifesciencesoutreach.fas.harvard.edu/ABE
Runs great professional development for teachers to train them how to use biotechnology tools. One of the training locations in in Springfield. Run in association with the Harvard Life Sciences Outreach (active on twitter @HarvLSOutreach), and has a great network of active biology teachers. Alia Qatarneh (active on twitter @aliaqatarneh) is the contact for this program, she is fantastic and great for networking ideas and getting things out to teachers! Also contact Jake Barnett (@email) if you are interested, he was previously involved with this program as a high school teacher.
BiteScis, https://bitescis.org/
This program’s goal is to connect early-career researchers (us!) with classroom teachers to team up and create lessons plans that incorporate cutting-edge science! From their website: "We are always looking for educators and researchers to join the BiteScis team! The first step in becoming a BiteScientist is to attend a workshop which will kick-start what we hope will be lasting relationships between educators and researchers. Through these partnerships educators will have the opportunity to learn about cutting-edge research from the scientists on the front lines and researchers will learn how to translate their work for a K–12 audience."
Mystic River Watershed Association (MyRWA), https://mysticriver.org/get-involved
The MyRWA has several volunteer, internship, and outreach opportunities available. Find more information on their website. Time commitment will vary.
4. Science writing (blogs) and online outreach:
That’s Life [Science], http://thatslifesci.com/
That’s Life [Science] is a free and open source of blog-style articles spanning the life sciences that are geared towards the general public. It was established by an interdisciplinary group of UMass Amherst graduate students and was originally an idea fostered by the OEB Outreach Committee! Contributing writers will write and edit blog posts geared toward non-scientists (high school age and up). The time commitment varies depending on involvement, but the minimum time spent per semester will be about 15 hours. If you are interested in getting involved with TLS, contact Derrick Alcott (@email) or Aaron Grade (@email).
OceanBites, http://oceanbites.org
Oceanbites.org is an online outreach blog created and operated by graduate students studying in the marine sciences. Contributing authors summarize interesting new publications in marine science for a general public audience each month. Go to oceanbites.org/contact-us/ for more information on how to apply to become a new contributing author. As an author, you are expected to write one post (~1000 words) per month. You may contact OEB student & Oceanbites writer Derrick Alcott with questions (@email).
Dispatches From the Field, https://dispatchesfromthefield1.wordpress.com
Dispatches From the Field is a blog created to share and highlight the field experiences of scientists. So much of what happens in the field has no place in scientific papers, and never makes it into the public realm – yet these stories are at the core of the scientific experience. This blog serves as an outlet for those stories, and also a way to share the rare, quiet lessons field biologists learn from the many landscapes they are privileged to get to know. Go here to https://dispatchesfromthefield1.wordpress.com/contact-us/ for information on how to become a contributing author. You are not expected to contribute regularly - you can just do one post for them if you want! You may contact OEB student & Dispatches writer Amy Strauss with questions (@email).
Planting Science Mentor, http://www.plantingscience.org/index.php?module=content&func=view&pid=102
Planting Science is an international collaboration between scientists, science societies, and educators. This partnership teams up to make scientists accessible to the classroom. Graduate students and Post-docs are encouraged to mentor high school & undergraduate teams online as they try and work through a specific research project. The time commitment is ~2 hours per week during the fall and spring semesters. Selected mentors will receive benefits of a free annual society membership, reduced annual meeting fees, and a T-shirt.
Skype a Scientist, https://www.skypeascientist.com/
Skype a Scientist is an online outreach opportunity that gives you the chance to connect with k-12 students around the world without having to leave campus. You are matched with up to 5 teachers from k-12 classroom(s). You’ll then video chat with their students for a 30-60 minute session. The video session is meant to be an informal Q&A style, not a strict lecture. One of the main goals of the program is to make kids feel that they have had direct contact with scientists, especially scientists like them (e.g. first-gen, women, POC, low-income, etc.), “to put a friendly face to science and lower the intimidation factor that surrounds science for some students”. Exact time commitment will likely vary with how many classrooms you would like to chat with and what you would like to talk about.
*Note: If you are interested in starting your own blog/website, let a member of the outreach committee know and we can connect you with OEB students who maintain their own blog/website/twitter!
Compiled by the OEB Outreach Committee:
Laura Hancock (@email), Brittany Laginhas (@email), Mayrolin García (@email), and Jacob Barnett (@email) with previous help from Amy Strauss and Kit Straley.
The OEB Outreach Committee’s main goal is to help connect you with outreach opportunities and facilitate your participation in these activities. Our other goal as a committee is to annually compile information and spread the word about what outreach the OEB graduate student community is doing. We would love to hear your ideas for additions to this ever expanding list of potential outlets/activities! Please contact us with any questions or comments including:
- If you know about outreach opportunities that aren't on this list please let us know so we can update the document.
- If you don't see what you're looking for, let us know and we'll search around for opportunities that better match your interests.
- If you do get involved with some of these activities (or others), let us know! We want to keep track of outreach efforts by OEB students.
- If you need any sort of support in order to get involved with these organizations (i.e. coordinating carpools, borrowing materials, etc.).