Communicating Science to the Public through a University-Museum Partnership

An innovative National Science Foundation-supported program at the University of Wisconsin–Madison called Internships in Public Science Education (IPSE) enables graduate and undergraduate interns to communicate science concepts to pre-college and museum audiences through a university–museum collaboration. Interns work with researchers from the UW Materials Research Science and Engineering Center (MRSEC), science museum personnel from Discovery World in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and local K–12 educators to expand their knowledge of advanced materials and nanotechnology while developing exciting grade-appropriate activities for classroom and museum settings. Activities range from answering the question, “What is the nanoscale?” to investigating the societal implications of nanotechnology and the structure–property relationships of carbon allotropes. These activities use cutting-edge examples to explain basic science concepts. The program’s impact on various stakeholders has been assessed and is discussed. The program serves as a model for other colleges and universities interested in communicating cutting-edge research to the public.