Category: Outreach

• Skype a Scientist connects scientists with students and the public to engage in real life work. They run livestream events that allow public Q&A forums, making everyday science more accessible. For more information see: https://www.skypeascientist.com/
• Champaign County Forest Preserve has opened a couple of their interpretive centers for anyone looking to get some volunteer action. They have opportunities to work with school groups, public programs, and museum tours and collections. For more information see: https://www.ccfpd.org/Museum-Education/Education-Volunteers
• Urbana Park District runs school programs that rely on volunteers to lead nature activities and encourage appreciation of the outdoors. For more information see: https://www.urbanaparks.org/get-involved/volunteer/
• Project READ is looking for new volunteers to help tutor with basic reading, basic math, or English as a second language. Introduction sessions and tutoring opportunities are currently being run via Zoom. For more information see: https://cuvolunteer.org/opportunities/2387
• Sci Fund is offering free, online, self-guided classes to improve scientific outreach skills, including social media presence, video storytelling, and creating academic posters. For more information see: https://scifundchallenge.org/scifund-classes/
• Anyone who is currently working with children and needs assistance explaining the intricacies of Covid19, ACM has provided a list of resources here: https://childrensmuseums.org/about/covid-19

Check out the Outreach Opportunities sub-tab for an updated list! https://www.life.illinois.edu/geeb/opportunities/

This weekend GEEB participated in an outreach event at the Orpheum Children’s Science Museum as part of the Museum’s STEAMpunk kids weekend club. We talked about what fossils are, how fossils are formed, and the kids also had the opportunity to look at and touch some real fossils and also make their own “fossils” using clay. Thank you so much to every GEEBer that volunteered (and especially Ingrid Romero for leading the discussion), and thanks to Stephany Virrueta Herrera for organizing this outreach! It was a lot of fun! Here are some photos of the event:

Continue reading “STEAMpunk Outreach at the Orpheum”

On May 30th, GEEB volunteers brought science to the Urbana Farmer’s market. We educated members of the public on various mammals, birds, and darter fish that they could see in their own backyard or in other areas of Illinois.

Read more to see photos from the event!

On April 10th, GEEB volunteers set up an array of different science booths for students from kindergarten up to 5th grade to interact with! We had an amazing turn out. Check out some of the booths in the photos below!

On October 18th, GEEB volunteers braved the chilly weather to bring science to the Urbana Farmer’s Market! We demonstrated local mammals, birds, and reptiles that can be found right here in Illinois, and educated members of the public on their basic biology. Visitors were especially excited to see the giant groundhog and the live reptiles. We had a fantastic turnout despite the cold weather!