Outreach Guide

Things to Remember

  1.   Safety is always the primary concern.
    1.  Know what safety measures are needed for your demo. (Are you using electricity? Is there any danger of laser radiation? etc.)
    2.  Be aware of your surroundings. (Could someone trip over an extension cord?)
    3.  Understand relevant policies for the venue. (university, classroom, public event)
  2.  Allow extra time for setup and take-down.
  3.  Keep track of borrowed equipment and accessories.

Tips and Tricks

  1.  Make the activity as interactive and hands-on as possible.  Avoid long lectures!
  2.  Recognize that everyone has different reference points and may not have access to expensive technology, so try drawing from the natural world for everyday examples.
  3.  Practice adapting the content for different age ranges.  Many events will also have teachers, chaperones, or parents involved, so teaching the content to all ages can also encourage the conversation to continue after you leave.
  4.  Get a question that you don’t know how to answer right away?  That’s ok!  Try saying, “I don’t know, but let’s try to figure it out together.”  Celebrate curiosity and creativity over right answers.
  5.  HAVE FUN – Enthusiasm is contagious!

External Links

American Physical Society Outreach Guide