Covert Approaches to Countering Adult Chemophobia

There is a growing need for more proactive outreach by universities to the wider public to counter the negative publicity surrounding chemistry. At present, most programs aimed at widening participation focus on the potential recruitment of juniors rather than seeking an inclusive approach. The direct participation of adults within university sponsored public events is significantly underrepresented. As such, a pilot study aimed at developing a strategy through which this elusive audience can be engaged was implemented and the results have been critically evaluated. A generic program is detailed that should allow easy transfer and adoption between institutions irrespective of size and community profile.