Odor to Action
Transforming olfactory science into classroom discovery
Project Type: Light interactive
Keywords: “Learn More” Webpage; Broader Impacts
Funding Type: Research Grant (Awardee-Client)
SLCC Teams:
Instructional Design: Classroom connections
Writing: Focused message
Art: Relatable visuals
Web: Interactivity and motion
Project Management: Team management, timing and scope
Client: Ideas, insight, review
The Challenge
At the core of this project was the question: how do you make olfactory ecology and evolution engaging and relevant?
Our clients, the “Odor2Action” research team, wanted to share their work with a broader audience and boost visibility, all while working within a modest budget and balancing input from a large group of collaborators.
The SSLC Approach
Connecting complex research to classrooms is always a fun task for teams at the SSLC. For this project, like many others, our understanding of both sides came into play.
On the research side, we helped the team focus their message. As part of this process, we sifted through key scientific articles and interviewed team members to distill what mattered most. From there, we guided the group to identify the lasting idea they wanted learners to remember, and built the experience around that insight.
To ensure classroom relevance, we reviewed and identified key science education standards with which to align materials, so teachers could easily integrate the resource as way to cover required concepts. Finally, we brought the biology of smell to life through clear, middle school–level writing, engaging interactive elements, and relatable visuals that connect science to students’ everyday experiences.
This interactive graphic brings complex primary research to life, letting users choose odors and watch neural pathways animate to the brain. More fun than a textbook? We think so!
Impact
Strong Engagement
Reached 2,300 page views in its first year (2023) on the site and has continued to grow
Standards Aligned
Aligned with middle school science standards, making it easy for teachers to bring cutting-edge research into the classroom
Expanded Research Reach
Helped researchers broaden their reach and share the wonder of sensory science with a worldwide audience
Scientific concepts describing how animals use odor to find food becomes intuitive when taught using art and interactive elements.