Vision Statement
OSU BPRC Educational Outreach Program
Vision Statement
To enhance the knowledge and awareness of Earth sciences for learners of all ages through the development of quality educational materials and programs.
Background
BPRC is an internationally recognized leader in studies of the polar regions and global change. The scientific achievements of Center researchers have been recognized by federal funding agencies which have awarded the BPRC leadership roles in activities such as the Office of Naval Research (ONR) ARI on Sea Ice Remote Sensing, the NASA Radarsat Antarctic Mapping Project, NSF's Long Term Environmental Research Program, and most recently an NSF Science and Technology Center in collaboration with the University of Kansas, which is the lead organization. The public sector also has had a long term interest in Center activities highlighted by several productive collaborations with the National Geographic Society. BPRC has also enjoyed support from the Battelle Endowment in the form of a grant to engage local high school students in polar research. A logical and necessary next step for the BPRC is to work with federal, state, and industrial and nongovernmental organization partners to deliver the exciting research carried out by BPRC scientists into public view and into the nation's educational system.
Objectives & Approach
- Develop partnerships with community, industrial, and federal alliances for sponsored research and educational outreach activities.
- Develop avenues for transferring the scientific knowledge amassed by BPRC researchers into materials that meet the academic content standards of K-12 schools.
- Integrate the activities among all the participants to reflect both the capabilities of the BPRC scientists and collaborators and the needs and requirements of the educators and general public.
- Coordinate and participate in workshops and short courses that provide access to the resources available at OSU and BPRC to a broader community of learners through both traditional methods and emerging technologies.
A sampling of BPRC's past educational outreach activities