The STEM Impact Collaborative is organizing a series of professional development and learning opportunities focused on science communication, activity development and inclusive engagement practices.
Accessible Approaches to STEM Outreach and Engagement Seminar
- Friday, April 11th
- 2:00-3:30 p.m.
- 140 Pfahl Conference Center, 2110 Tuttle Park Place at Woody Hayes Dr.
Join us as we explore ways in which STEM outreach and engagement can be made more accessible for people of all abilities. This event will include a 30-minute keynote presentation, a 30-minute panel discussion, and a 30-minute networking reception with refreshments. This event is free, but preregistration is required. The seminar is ideal for STEM researchers interested in outreach, informal educators, and science communicators. The event is open to the public. ASL interpretation and CART captioning will be provided.
Register for the April 11th event: https://osu.az1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_8BAhZoj8fN9Dwcm
Keynote Presentation by Dr. Natalie L. Shaheen
Disrupting Compulsory Sightedness Through STEM Outreach and Communication
At school, at home, and in the community blind and low-vision folks are taught that one must be sighted to do STEM—a harmful message that does not have to be true. With your help, STEM classrooms, labs, museums, and outreach programs could be spaces where blind and low-vision folks feel safe and free to work and learn. In this presentation, Dr. Shaheen will share the pedagogical approach that a collective of blind educators and STEM professionals developed through two decades of facilitating inherently accessible informal STEM programs for blind and low-vision youth. When sightedness is no longer compulsory in STEM, more blind and low-vision folks will get to use their sophisticated problem-solving skills in service of scientific advancement.
Dr. Natalie L. Shaheen is an assistant professor at Illinois State University, jointly appointed in the Department of Special Education and the School of Teaching and Learning, and the principal investigator of A11y in Sci, a $1.5M NSF CAREER award (#2334693) designed to improve the long-term accessibility of technology-mediated high school science education. Shaheen is a leading expert in K-12 technology accessibility and born accessible STEM learning. The aim of Shaheen’s work is to disrupt systemic ableism and reimagine technology-mediated education so that disabled youth have equitable access to learning.
Before entering academia, Shaheen was a teacher of blind and disabled youth in public K-12 schools and informal education in Ohio, Nevada, Indiana, and Maryland. As a practitioner, Shaheen facilitated accessible STEM classes for over 900 blind and low-vision youth in a range of disciplines including: chemistry, computer science, and engineering.
Panel Discussion
Dive deeper into the topic of accessible STEM outreach and engagement through the multiple perspectives of our panelists:
- Dr. Terri Hessler, Associate Professor in the Department of Educational Studies (Special Education) at The Ohio State University at Newark
- Jennifer Bavry, Director of Family & Community Outreach Center at the Ohio Center for Autism and Low Incidence (OCALI)
- Charisse Heine, Teacher, Ohio School for the Deaf
Networking Reception
Join us after the panel discussion to take the conversation further. Network with other educators, researchers and professionals interested in the topic of accessible STEM outreach and engagement. Refreshments will be provided.
Science Communication Workshops
Registration for the science communication workshops is open to Ohio State STEM researchers (faculty, postdocs, graduate students and research staff).
Workshop #1: Science Communication for STEM Researchers
- Friday, March 28th
- 9:00-12:00 p.m.
- The Collaboratory, 141 Sullivant Hall, 1813 N. High Street
This workshop will focus on science communication best practices, crafting personal sciences stories, and building connections with your audience. Participants will gain experience translating their technical expertise into accessible language for a general audience, identifying core messages related their research, and exploring audiences for STEM outreach.
Register for the March 28th workshop: https://osu.az1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_3QwHDuTNCoZgjsi
Workshop #2: Developing Hands-On STEM Activities
- Thursday, May 8th
- 10:00-3:00 p.m.
- The Collaboratory, 141 Sullivant Hall, 1713 N. High Street
This workshop will explore effective interactive activities that demonstrate science concepts for a general audience. Researchers will 1) brainstorm ideas for STEM outreach activities, 2) use basic materials to build an activity prototype, and 3) demonstrate and receive feedback on their activity prototype and communication strategies. Participants will learn about STEM outreach infrastructure at Ohio State and explore opportunities to build their STEM outreach portfolio.
Lunch will be provided. Registration is open to Ohio State STEM researchers (faculty, postdocs, graduate students and research staff). Participation in the March 28th science communication workshop is recommended but not required to participate in this workshop.
Register for the May 8th workshop: https://osu.az1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_3UwWzZk5kuFkOJo
To request an accommodation or for inquiries about accessibility, please contact Courtney Price at 614-292-8208 or price.1217@osu.edu.
These events are organized by the STEM Impact Collaborative with support from the Office of Outreach and Engagement and the College of Arts and Sciences’ Office of Engagement