The impact of scientists' and engineers' involvement in a one-day program for middle school students at Princeton University

Abstract

This paper examines the changes in attitudes towards science, scientists and students' own identities as scientists as a result of their participation in a one-day science and engineering education outreach program. More than 450 middle school students participated in two events held on March 1 and March 4, 2011. The events, called 'Making Stuff', were each one-day materials science programs conducted by the Princeton Center for Complex Materials education outreach office. PCCM's education outreach office designed the program to include activity tables, auditorium shows and lab tours all performed by scientists or engineers affiliated with PCCM or Princeton University and its partner organizations. The aim of this paper is to show that a one-day program of direct interaction with research scientists and engineers has a positive impact on students' attitudes towards science.