SCIENCE ON WHEELS: SOWING INTEREST IN SCIENCE IN RURAL MISSOURI

People living in college towns are typically exposed to a variety of science outreach programs – but what about the residents of the rest of the State? It is not uncommon for people living in rural areas to never have met a scientist, which may lead to a lack of confidence in the scientific method as a valid approach to daily life decision-making. Science on Wheels is a graduate-student-run, travelling outreach program that brings the science done at the University of Missouri by graduate students to the rural communities of mid-Missouri, with the objective of familiarizing them with the many ways in which science improves their daily lives. The program takes place once a month. Each event lasts about one hour, during which five graduate students share a short overview of their research and its relevance to the general public, followed by ample time for informal discussion. Speakers are encouraged to attend a preparatory science communication workshop designed to help them present their work in an accessible, relatable way. The covered topics range from applied and directly relevant issues (e.g. soil science, water quality) to unexpected and catchy subjects (e.g. volcanoes, star dust). I will report on the launch phase of the program and the pilot event, which just took place in September.