Here are a few of the main outreach opportunities that members of our lab are actively engaged with. Learn more from their attached website links!
Lab members Matthew, Rachel, and Ben hosting a booth at the 2019 science expo.
Morehead Planetarium and Science Center, in partnership with the students and faculty at UNC, celebrate science with our community. This annual celebration of science features more than 100 hands-on activities and science demonstrations led by STEM students, researchers, and practitioners from UNC-Chapel Hill.
WinSPIRE (Women and underrepresented genders in STEM Promoting Inclusion in Research Experiences) supports high school students from underrepresented genders in STEM (cis-woman, trans-woman, trans-man, non-binary, genderfluid, agender, genderqueer, two-spirit), particularly students from historically marginalized groups in STEM and first generation students. The program provides hands-on experience in a research laboratory, engaging college-prep workshops, and an extensive support network of mentors from underrepresented genders in STEM.
Science in the Stacks (SITS) is a group of graduate students in the sciences who are passionate about what we do and partner with local libraries to share our love of science with the world. We currently host monthly sessions at the Chapel Hill Public Library where presenters give a talk on an area of science they find particularly fascinating, which is generally followed by an educational activity or demonstration relating to the talk.
The mission of Letters to a Pre-Scientist is to facilitate one-on-one connections to humanize STEM professionals, demystify STEM career pathways, and inspire all students to explore a future in STEM. Letters to a Pre-Scientist is committed to supporting all aspects of diversity in STEM and ensuring an inclusive environment that is welcoming to everyone who interacts with their programs. They’ve reached over 850 students since 2019 and are continuing to grow their outreach.
North Carolina Science Olympiad (NCSO) is a NC State program with the mission to attract and retain the pool of K-12 students entering science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) degrees and careers in North Carolina. Every year NCSO hosts tournaments on university, community college, and public school campuses across the state. These tournaments are rigorous academic interscholastic competitions that consist of a series of different hands-on, interactive, challenging and inquiry-based events that are well balanced between the various disciplines of biology, earth science, environmental science, chemistry, physics, engineering and technology.
A recycling infographic created by the UNC Chemistry safety committee
The department of chemistry at UNC Chapel Hill is committed to creating a world that provides a viable future. Our mission is to create a model for a sustainable chemistry department through the recommendation of sustainable laboratory practices and infrastructure, the involvement of all department personnel, and fostering a community where sustainability is considered in all aspects of operations.
The goal of the Joint Safety Team is to promote safe laboratory practices & protocols within the UNC Department of Chemistry. Our organization aims to foster a safe & inclusive community with an emphasis on outreach & education. The Joint Safety Team uses a variety of platforms to foster a safety culture within the UNC Department of Chemistry. This includes designing & implementing safety training initiatives, building resource databases, and designing & distributing infographics on safety topics related to chemistry.
Lunch Intersectionality
Our lab regularly hosts Lunch Intersectionality discussions where we take time to address contemporary social issues at local to international levels and connect them to our lived experiences as scientists/students/people. A coordinating member sends relevant news articles or papers on the topic for the group to read up on the issue and come with a more informed background. We aim to cultivate a safe environment for members to share perspectives and learn from each other’s experiences in a semi-structured, casual format.