An after school science program to get fourth- and fifth-grade girls excited about science at the University of Colorado at Boulder Museum of Natural History is one of an array of outreach programs offered by the university each year.
In a recent survey of 200 CU-Boulder outreach programs, 72 programs served more than 230,000 Coloradoans, including more than 56,000 K-12 students and 2,400 teachers. More than 300 CU-Boulder faculty members were involved in the projects, according to Anne Heinz, dean of CU-Boulder's Continuing Education and Professional Studies program, which contributes a portion of its revenue to outreach efforts each year.
The "Girls at the Museum Exploring Science" program is one of 24 faculty-directed outreach projects funded this year by the CU-Boulder Outreach Committee, according to Wynn Martens, outreach coordinator at CU-Boulder. As one of the campus's outreach efforts, the committee awards more than $200,000 in grants each year to faculty outreach projects. Another campus effort, the Outreach Cooperative, includes about 200 programs.
"Most importantly, I think these projects tell the story of how the University of Colorado at Boulder impacts the citizens of the state, how it connects and changes people's lives and how it improves learning and the quality of life for the people of Colorado," said CU-Boulder Chancellor G.P. "Bud" Peterson. "The awards make the research that we do on campus meaningful to general audiences and bring it into classrooms all over the state."
Now in its fifth year, the Girls at the Museum Exploring Science program includes seven weekly after-school visits to the CU Museum. While at the museum, girls explore archaeology, botany, entomology, paleontology and zoology through hands-on activities. They also have direct interaction with scientists and museum professionals, according to Cathy Regan, director of the program.
"This program helps to dispel myths and stereotypes about what scientists are like," Regan said. "It is important for young girls to see people who look like them doing scientific research."
Among the 24 projects funded by the Outreach Committee for 2007-08 are programs including one in which undergraduate students and faculty use sustainable building technology to design and build an affordable housing unit from a mobile home structure; a clinic that provides low-income families with a low-cost comprehensive evaluation for children who are experiencing academic, behavioral or emotional difficulties; and a program to educate school children about the importance of protecting their hearing.
The CU-Boulder Outreach Council was established in 1986 by Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs Bruce Ekstrand. In 1998, the Outreach Committee was established with stronger faculty oversight and increased funding through support of the chancellor and the provost.
For a complete list of the projects funded by the Outreach Committee for 2007-08 visit www.colorado.edu/ContinuingEducation/outreach07-08grants.htm.
