About

Mission Statement

UW-Whitewater Science Outreach serves the Biological Science, Chemistry, Geography/Geology, and Physics departments within the College of Letters and Science and is committed to fostering the increase of scientific knowledge, expelling scientific misconceptions, raising awareness of quality science programming offered at UW-Whitewater, and supporting UW-Whitewater science students in experiential and service learning opportunities.

Goals

Science Outreach will:

1. provide high impact activities in all science disciplines for area K-12 schools, the campus community, and the public through a variety of on- and off-campus events throughout the year,
2. obtain funding through grants and/or sponsorships to support outreach activities,
3. support K-16 educators by providing teacher training and in-class activities that focus around the Core Science Standards and Next Generation Science Standards,
4. provide grant-based scholarships to low income and minority K-12 students to attend cost-based activities they might not otherwise be able to attend,
5. raise awareness of quality science programs offered by UW-Whitewater by establishing opportunities for prospective students, their families, and the community to experience the strengths of UW-Whitewater in an on-campus, inviting setting,
6. provide experiential and service learning opportunities for UW-Whitewater science majors as proposed through LEAP (Liberal Education and America's Promise) principles and program requirements, and
7. expel scientific misconceptions across all levels of students and life long learners.

Advisory Board

Dr. Steve Sahyun (Physics)
Dr. John Frye (Geography)
Dr. Jessica Menke (Chemistry)
Dr. Kris Curran (Biology)
Lassity Sullivan (LINCS Elementary School)
Petra VandeZande (Whitewater High School)

Role in serving the College of Letters and Science and the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater

UW-Whitewater Science Outreach helps to achieve the mission of the University by providing “outreach program as an integrated institutional activity,” providing a “variety of co-curricular activities to enhance out-of-class learning opportunities,” and by “serving as a regional science resource center through service initiatives.”  UW-Whitewater Science Outreach also helps to achieve the mission of the College of Letters and Science by “using the knowledge and expertise of faculty and students to improve society by providing STEM-related programs that meet the needs and engage the interests of the University campus and area community.”