HR: 0800h
AN: ED41C-07    [Abstracts]
TI: Illinois State University FOCUS Initiative: Civic Engagement and Outreach Projects in the ISU Physics Department
AU: * Ansher, J A
EM: jansher@ilstu.edu
AF: Illinois State University, 4560 - Physics Department, Normal, IL 61790-4560, United States
AU: Holland, D L
EM: holland@phy.ilstu.edu
AF: Illinois State University, 4560 - Physics Department, Normal, IL 61790-4560, United States
AU: Johns, G F
EM: johns@phy.ilstu.edu
AF: Illinois State University, 4560 - Physics Department, Normal, IL 61790-4560, United States
AU: Willmitch, T R
EM: trw@phy.ilstu.edu
AF: Illinois State University, 4560 - Physics Department, Normal, IL 61790-4560, United States
AB: The Illinois State University Physics Department has long realized the importance of providing educational outreach opportunities to the wider community. Creating and maintaining community networks with engaging outreach projects helps us broaden the appreciation of physics, as well as encourage young students to consider careers in the sciences. A key aspect of these ISU Physics programs is that we involve our undergraduates in them, thereby fostering civic engagement in the next generation of scientists. This presentation highlights how our department promotes basic science literacy, and awareness of space physics and astronomy through several existing outreach projects. We also describe how we operate under the broader scope of the ISU FOCUS Initiative, and the NASA Solar System Ambassadors program.
DE: 0805 Elementary and secondary education
DE: 0815 Informal education
DE: 2756 Planetary magnetospheres (5443, 5737, 6033)
DE: 7599 General or miscellaneous
DE: 7999 General or miscellaneous
SC: Education and Human Resources [ED]
MN: 2007 Joint Assembly