Leslie Jones
Opening doors with informal science: Exposure and access for our underserved students
University of Northern Iowa
become apparent need broaden emphasis science education ensure every student achieves level science literacy science educators face challenge addressing new audiences always wellserved traditional presentations scientific material challenge presenting agricultural science urban african american students typifies scenario necessitates devising new approaches teach people previously overlooked even ignored scientific community young scholars program ohio state university osu 6year precollegiate intervention program designed prepare academically talented economically disadvantaged minority students college education novel outreach program developed primary intention enhancing educational background young people increasing agricultural literacy secondary goal lay hope students might enticed consider possibility collegiate study agricultural fields thus infusing much needed racialethnic diversity college food agriculture environmental sciences student population address anticipated disinterest part students informal approach designed emphasize relevance breadth technical sophistication aesthetic components agricultural science devised students taken educational field trips various college departments part academic program summer visits osu efforts made use nontraditional women men color scientists many presenters break stereotypical notion white males science deliberate educational strategies employed enhance educative aspects visits sciencewriting exercise served dual purpose prompting student reflection well evaluation instrument assess efficacy program success effort reshape traditional presentation agriculture demonstrated much testimony students well verbal written observations adults involved demonstrable success project documents possibility initiative addressing dual challenge opening doors science simultaneously cultivating interest historically underrepresented people nontraditional subject areas research supports idea informal approach science education particularly effective intervention strategy reaching underserved students 1997 john wiley sons inc sci ed 81663677 1997