Making Science Accessible: Hands-On Activities for Field Campaign Engagement

Atmospheric science field campaigns are complex and costly endeavors that yield invaluable scientific data for the research community. In addition, it is important to translate complex research objectives and processes into meaningful educational and engaging experiences for community members of all ages in the locations where research is occurring. This presentation will discuss our approach to selecting and refining hands-on educational activities to effectively convey the scientific concepts and processes explored during NSF NCAR-supported field campaigns. Our activities are selected to align with Next Generation Science Standards, in an effort to ensure curricular relevance and promote critical thinking skills. By prioritizing low-cost materials, we aimed to eliminate financial barriers and make these activities accessible to a wide range of educational settings and communities. Through these engaging and informative activities, students can gain a deeper understanding of the field campaign's scientific objectives and the real-world applications of scientific research.