My passion for science education extends beyond the classroom. As a member of the Primate Osteology and Behavioral Ecology Lab and the Molecular Anthropology Group, I regularly participate in outreach activities in Eugene and the southern Willamette Valley. My mission is to 1) make science more accessible for everyone (not just scientists) and to 2) increase diversity and retention in STEM fields, particularly for LGBTQ+. Described below are a few of the outreach activities in which I regularly participate. Please see my CV for a full list of science outreach activities.
While COVID-19 has paused some of my usual outreach activities, it is also an opportunity to engage with new audiences and by different means. This year, I have participated in Skype a Scientist with five different classrooms, discussing bonobos and chimpanzees and how we study our closest living relatives.
I was also recently invited to discuss our recent work on forest elephants on the Long Story Pod. Listen via any of your favorite podcast apps and be sure to check out the other episodes from this fascinating first season!
I was also recently invited to discuss our recent work on forest elephants on the Long Story Pod. Listen via any of your favorite podcast apps and be sure to check out the other episodes from this fascinating first season!
Science Program to Inspire Creativity and Excellence (SPICE)
The Molecular Anthropology Group participates annually in the SPICE summer camp. This program is designed for middle school aged girls interested in STEM. Our group has developed a 2.5 hour long activity, "Forensics in the Forest", that teaches participants about methods in biological anthropology, including bioarchaeology, forensic anthropology, osteology, genetics, and bioinformatics. This activity also introduces participants to disease ecology and conservation in addition to emphasizing the interdisciplinary and highly collaborative nature of anthropological research.
The Molecular Anthropology Group participates annually in the SPICE summer camp. This program is designed for middle school aged girls interested in STEM. Our group has developed a 2.5 hour long activity, "Forensics in the Forest", that teaches participants about methods in biological anthropology, including bioarchaeology, forensic anthropology, osteology, genetics, and bioinformatics. This activity also introduces participants to disease ecology and conservation in addition to emphasizing the interdisciplinary and highly collaborative nature of anthropological research.
Meet a Scientist Day
Both of my affiliated labs participate at this annual event at the Eugene Science Center, which is geared toward young children. The Osteology Lab's 'Primate Bones and Bodies' activity provides the opportunity for children (and adults) to handle primate casts from multiple primate species. The major learning objectives are to 1) identify skeletal differences between humans and non-human primates and 2) identify adaptations in primate skeletons. The Molecular Anthropology Group developed the "DNA of You" activity in which kids make a DNA bracelet using a different colored bead for each different nucleotide. The can choose to create a bracelet from various species, whose sequences are different based on phylogenetic distance. The learning objectives for this activity include 1) identifying the four bases of DNA and 2) understanding how more closely related species exhibit more similar DNA sequences. We have also developed a comic that can be taken home to review and learn more about DNA.
Both of my affiliated labs participate at this annual event at the Eugene Science Center, which is geared toward young children. The Osteology Lab's 'Primate Bones and Bodies' activity provides the opportunity for children (and adults) to handle primate casts from multiple primate species. The major learning objectives are to 1) identify skeletal differences between humans and non-human primates and 2) identify adaptations in primate skeletons. The Molecular Anthropology Group developed the "DNA of You" activity in which kids make a DNA bracelet using a different colored bead for each different nucleotide. The can choose to create a bracelet from various species, whose sequences are different based on phylogenetic distance. The learning objectives for this activity include 1) identifying the four bases of DNA and 2) understanding how more closely related species exhibit more similar DNA sequences. We have also developed a comic that can be taken home to review and learn more about DNA.