Public Outreach
Research team: Hilary Godwin, Catherine Nameth
The goal of our public outreach projects provide formal and informal opportunities for dialogue between the Center and its stakeholders, to expand the knowledge base on research, societal implications, and risk perception related to the environmental implications of nanotechnology. The Center engages in public outreach by hosting academic conferences, seminars, and symposia, and by participating in public events.
The Center co-hosts a joint annual international meeting with CEINT, the International Conference on the Environmental Implications of Nanotechnology (ICEIN). ICEIN provides a public forum for scientists, researchers, government, and industry to discuss research, societal implications, and risk perceptions of the environmental implications of nanotechnology. In 2011, CEIN contributed six invited talks by faculty and staff, seven invited talks by graduate students and postdoctoral fellows, and sixteen posters. Additionally, in partnership with other research centers, government agencies, and industry, the Center contributes to a number of academic conferences and seminars each year.
By partnering with the Nanoscale Informal Science and Engineering Network (NISENet) on educational materials and with the California Science Center, the Santa Monica Public Library, and local schools on event locations, the Center reaches a broad range (age, socioeconomic status, educational levels, etc.) of stakeholders through its informal science education events. In 2011, over 1,000 children and adults learned about nanoscale science and engineering at CEIN-affiliated events. As a result of CEIN’s collaborative efforts regarding informal science education, the Center has contributed to raising public awareness about nanotechnology.
The Center maintains a system for web-based knowledge dissemination to the public through its website and its Facebook page.
In the coming year, the UC CEIN will continue to provide speakers for the CEIN/CNSI (California NanoSystems Institute) seminar series at UCLA and to maintain its web page and other web-based applications. Informal science education partnerships with NISENet, the California Science Center, the Santa Monica Public Library, the SciArt program at UCLA, and local schools will continue. In addition, CEIN’s NanoDays partnership with the California Science Center, which is focused on the K-12 audience, will expand to include a 30-minute session for adults. Furthermore, the Center will produce its own interactive educational materials, and the Education/Outreach Coordinator is negotiating with the California Science Center in Los Angeles and the Lied Discovery Children’s Museum in Las Vegas, Nevada (a NISENet partner) to pilot-test the materials and to gather evaluation data.
