Summer
Science Day
“So fun and interactive for my kids! We loved it”
A community-wide celebration of curiosity and research
Project Type: Community building event
Keywords: Outreach, STEM Careers
Funding Type: Sponsor organizations
The Challenge
How do you connect the local community to the excitement of scientific discovery, especially when the research isn’t directly tied to health or medicine?
With Summer Science Day, we set out to showcase the University of Utah’s world-leading research in all its forms.
The event had to be fun and accessible to compete with many other summer activities, all while breaking down barriers between scientists and the community.
Presenters from SACNAS (Society for Advancement of Chicanos/Hispanics and Native Americans in Science) demonstrate with glitter how soap fights germs.
Participants learn how chemistry can make balloons inflate.
The SSLC Approach
For this project, we were the connectors between the university and our community.
The SSLC coordinated across our U of U network to bring together labs, faculty, and students to host a day of truly hands-on science. We guided researchers in refining activities that highlighted their work in approachable, curiosity-sparking ways, and suggested activities for those who wanted to participate but weren’t sure how. We also guided teams in refining their stations so every activity sparked curiosity and discovery.
Our team planned and executed a thoughtful and highly successful awareness campaign that drew quite the crowd to this first-time event, including people who had never set foot on campus before. While participants were busy touring labs, touching pig lungs, folding paper virus proteins, and freezing food with liquid nitrogen, our team managed all event logistics. We also supplemented presentations with our own proven educational materials.
All in all, the event drew on contributions from across our expertise including administration, art, teaching, and curriculum writing. We’re excited to build on its success in the future!
Impact
Diverse Reach
~1,000 attendees from many walks of life
People of all ages got to see science as accessible, exciting, and relevant to their lives
Spotlight the U’s Research
Over 60 scientists volunteered their time (on a Saturday!)
Inspiring Future Scientists
Many young Utahns interacted with scientists as real people, with plenty of opportunities to imagine themselves as future researchers and educators
