Physics Department Community Outreach Efforts Mats Selen, Sept122001

1
Physics DepartmentCommunity Outreach Efforts
(Mats Selen, Sept/12/2001)

• Physics Van
• Saturday Physics Honors Series
• WCIA Channel 3
• Other Efforts

2
Physics Van

• Traveling science show staffed by volunteer
  undergraduates.
• Target area elementary schools (100 mile
  radius).
• Other venues not that unusual
• Illinois State Fair
• Adler Planetarium
• Snowmass (Colorado!)
• Chicago Academy of Sciences
• Girl/Boy Scouts, Home Schools, BOAST, IMSA etc
• We have done 250 shows since 1994
• Have been seen by well over 30,000 kids !

See http//van/hep/uiuc.edu
3
Physics Van How its done
First recruit volunteers (Quad Day)
4
Pick up the Van from the motor-pool and pack it
with interesting experiments
Drive to the show
5
Meet the kids
6
Everyone has fun
7
Saturday Physics

• A regular series of Scientific American level
  talks.
• Geared at high-school physics students.
• Get a certificate for attending all six.
• Expect a big turnout from Centennial, Central and
  Urbana High this fall.
• Students come from all over the state!
• Open to the general public (lots of people show
  up).

8
Saturday Physics
9
WCIA Physics in the Morning Live Shots

• About one per month since Feb/2000 (17 so far).
• Mats Selen is now the (unofficial) Channel 3
  Science Guy.

10
Channel 3 example (time permitting 2.5 minutes)
11
Other Efforts

• Participation in GAMES summer camp for middle
  school girls.
• You know all about this already.
• Physics 111 Labs for High School Students
• Provide hands on experience with university labs.
• CyberClub
• Computer Literacy and Mathematics Enrichment
  Program for Disadvantaged Middle School Youths.
• Other involvement with local schools.
• Curriculum consulting for Champaign Schools
  Science Center.
• Participation in Centennials Education to
  Careers program.
• Lots of various volunteer activities.