Science Ambassadors is a high school outreach program involving undergraduate researchers at Indiana University. During the month of May, when regional high schools are still in session but summer break has begun for college students, ambassadors return to their hometowns and team-teach a chemistry class with their former high school teacher. Ambassadors discuss their experiences as science majors, their research and its underlying science, and they perform relevant demonstrations. The benefits of this program include that i) the Science Ambassadors are very familiar with the environment that they are being sent to, ii) the cost of the program is low compared to other high school outreach programs, iii) college students serve as role models who inspire high school students to pursue STEM degrees while also iv) feeding the 'pipeline� of scientists at the high school level, and v) the students' parents are indirectly targeted. Additionally, the program enhances the training of undergraduate researchers by providing them an opportunity to improve their communication skills while reinforcing scientific concepts related to ther research. This presentation will outline the multi-level mentoring structure within the Science Ambassadors Program as well as present results from participant surveys which highlight the potential impact of the program.

Undergraduate researchers as science ambassadors: A new outreach approach to high schools

248th National Meeting (2014)

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