The Nuts and Bolts of Running a Graduate Student-Led Science Outreach Program

The Public Outreach Committee of the MU Physics and Astronomy Graduate Student Association (PAGSA) was founded in 2012 to increase involvement of its members in science outreach in the community. The committee's goal was to increase the acceptance and understanding of science by the general public while also inspiring the next generation of scientists. Over the past two years the committee has managed events for the Missouri Science Olympiad State Tournament, manned booths at NSTA Science Matter's Night, entertained students at the Mizzou Adventures in Graduate Education event, judged a Junior High and High School Science Fair for the CCAA Conference, as well as helped Smithton Middle School students prepare for the Science Olympiad. The committee's dedication and hard work has been recognized the past two years with the 2012 and 2013 Chancellor's Award in Public Outreach. This poster will show how graduate students can acquire funding, organize volunteers, plan and carry out a successful science outreach program by effective use of department and university resources.