Not sure where to start? Check out Getting Started with Outreach & Engagement in CEOAS for a step-by-step guide to launching a new project! Or check out the resources below for specific professional development opportunities.
Learn more about and join up with the CEOAS Outreach Community of Practice!
Resources for Professional Development Opportunities
University of Utah’s STEM Ambassador Program (STEMAP) focuses on engaging in non-traditional venues to reach audiences who cannot or do not engage with science through conventional outlets (e.g., by visiting their local museum, reading popular science articles). The training will consist of a series of workshops led by staff at the University of Utah and facilitated by CEOAS Outreach and Communications support staff. Scientists will distill their research, personal interests, and experiences to identify engagement opportunities that resonate with them. They will then build skills to establish relationships in the community, design engagement activities, and implement engagement activities in community venues. Participating scientists will carry out an engagement activity as part of their training. Participation includes 8-10 hours of workshops and meetings in winter term of 2021, as well as independent work to develop projects.
To learn more about participating in the STEM Ambassador program for CEOAS, please contact Outreach Coordinator Ryan Brown or Interim Communications Manager Nancy Steinberg, who are recruiting for this program throughout spring term, 2021.
Developing your knowledge of social justice and equity considerations is critical in order to offer inclusive outreach and engagement opportunities. The Social Justice Education Initiative for faculty and staff (including graduate students employed by CEOAS) at Oregon State University is an invitation to begin, or continue, your social justice and equity journey. Humor, empathy, and expertise is used to engage in a self-reflective process to help answer these important questions: What is the story of the current context in Oregon – and how did we get here? How do you locate yourself in this story? Why does social justice matter? The phrase "more curiosity, less judgement" is instrumental to social justice and equity work and is a guiding principle for this interactive workshop. Workshops are offered regularly throughout each term.
The NSF-funded Center for Advancing Research Impact in Society (ARIS) is the national leader in supporting Broader Impacts professionals and providing training for researchers and grant-writers. The “Broader Impacts 101” workshop has helped thousands of people make sense of the Broader Impacts criterion and empowered them to approach their grant-writing with more clarity and confidence. This two-hour, activity-based webinar will cover the history of the criterion, provide strategies for conceptualizing, developing, implementing and evaluating activities, and share tips on leveraging existing resources and establishing robust partnerships.
This toolkit is designed to support science engagement professionals who are developing strategic efforts to broaden participation in STEM. The report draws from both research and practice, and identifies four significant barriers that efforts to broaden participation in STEM must address. It also includes practical tools including a conversation guide and practice briefs, helping professionals to feel prepared to engage on important and challenging topics. Trainings associated with the toolkit are offered periodically.
OMSI Science Communication Fellows are STEM professionals or industry and academic researchers, including faculty, graduate students, technicians or other individuals in science, engineering, health or technology related positions. After participating in specialized training, Fellows are certified by OMSI as current science ambassadors and skilled communicators. Fellows join a community of STEM professionals passionate about helping public audiences engage with STEM in meaningful and relevant ways. Scholarships are available through OMSI, and partial funding is sometimes provided by CEOAS to support attendance.
Learn more about this program and other professional development offerings from OMSI here.
Michigan State University's Office of University Outreach and Engagement hosts a Summer Intensive that focuses on community-engaged research, teaching, and learning, including service-learning and community-based research in classes. The Summer Intensive is composed of interactive workshops, lunches in disciplinary clusters and with senior community-engaged scholars, dialogue with community partners, and time to develop your own community engagement plan for your return to campus.
The ARIS website is a one-stop-shop for everything related to science outreach and engagement. The ARIS Center is funded by the National Science Foundation and housed at the University of Missouri. ARIS works with scientists and engagement practitioners to build capacity, advance scholarship, grow partnerships and provide resources to help them engage with and demonstrate the impact of research in their communities and society. The website provides access to trainings and resources, job listings, and a community forum to allow you to connect with other academics and professionals regarding outreach efforts.
ARIS is supported by the OSU STEM Research Center, a great resource on OSU campus to support your outreach and engagement efforts.
Alan Alda Center for Communicating Science
The Story Collider
COMPASS
OSU Sci Comm group (LinkedIn page)
Don’t be Such a Scientist (Book)
Escape from the Ivory Tower (Book)
Houston, We Have a Narrative (Book)
Science Communication journal
NW Science Writers Association, Inclusive Science Communications
AAAS sci comm workshops