SCOPE: A Volunteer-Led STEM Outreach Program Connecting Communities to Research

Graphical Abstract

Abstract

Explore how the SCOPE program engages graduate students and researchers in community outreach to increase awareness of and appreciation for scientific research and practices.

Keywords:

• Informal Education
• Environmental Science
• NGSS
• Research
• STEM

Supplemental Material

Acknowledgments

We offer gratitude to our donors—your support has been essential to broadening our mission. We would also like to thank Kathleen Ritzman and Donna Shabkie for advocacy and council that has increased program impact, Scripps Diversity Initiatives Coordinator Keiara Auzenne, as well as Cheryl Peach and the Birch Aquarium at Scripps for their support and partnership. Finally, we would like to extend a sincere thank you to the current and past SCOPE coordinators, volunteers, collections and facilities managers, and many others without whom this program wouldn't be and whose contributions are deeply valued.

The SCOPE program has many people to thank, including previous coordinators Heather N. Page, Maitreyi Nagarkar, Jessica Carilli, Alexandra Curtis, Lauren A. Freeman, Melissa Garren, Summer Martin, Nastassia Patin, Samuel J. Wilson, Lisa Munger, Christine Reif, Alison LaBonte, and Fernando Gonzalez for thoughtful comments on this manuscript and your service to the program. We offer sincere gratitude to our donors for their generosity in funding the SCOPE program – your support has been essential for broadening our mission. We would also like to thank Kathleen Ritzman and Donna Shabkie for advocacy for, and council to, this program to help it achieve more and make an impact on the Scripps and broader community. We sincerely thank Maureen McGreevy for assistance with SCOPE fund management. We express much gratitude to Keiara Auzenne, the Scripps Diversity Initiatives Coordinator, as well as Cheryl Peach and our partners at the Birch Aquarium at Scripps for their support of this program and our shared goals. SCOPE also appreciates the contributions and involvement of the Collections Managers: Charlotte Seid, Ben Frable, Linsey Sala, and Alex Hangsterfer. We thank facilities managers Phil Zerofski, Ashleigh Palinkas, Christian McDonald, and Maggie Tilley, as well as other cooperating groups, offices, and facilities at Scripps. Finally, we would like to extend a sincere thank you to all the current and past SCOPE volunteers, without whom this program wouldn’t be. We regrettably cannot list you all by name but know that your contributions are deeply valued and help to make our program a success.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Katherine T. Nesbit

Katherine T. Nesbit ([email protected]) is a Scripps PhD graduate and former SCOPE coordinator at the Scripps Institution of Oceanography at the University of California San Diego in La Jolla, California.

Wiley H. Wolfe

Wiley H. Wolfe is a PhD candidate and former SCOPE coordinator at the Scripps Institution of Oceanography at the University of California San Diego in La Jolla, California.

Kelli K. Mullane

Kelli K. Mullane is a PhD candidate and current SCOPE coordinator at the Scripps Institution of Oceanography at the University of California San Diego in La Jolla, California.

Emelia J. Chamberlain

Emelia J. Chamberlain is a PhD student and current SCOPE coordinator at the Scripps Institution of Oceanography at the University of California San Diego in La Jolla, California.

Brooke A. Rasina

Erik Saberski is a PhD candidate and current SCOPE coordinator, all at the Scripps Institution of Oceanography at the University of California San Diego in La Jolla, California.

Erik Saberski

Brooke A. Rasina is a climbing photographer and a former SCOPE coordinator.

Shelby A. Jones-Cervantes

Shelby A. Jones-Cervantes is a laboratory supervisor and educator with the Office of Archaeological Studies under the New Mexico Dept of Cultural Affairs, and a former SCOPE coordinator.