VIRTUAL “ASK A GEOLOGIST” PROGRAM DEVELOPED TO ENGAGE CHILDREN DURING SCHOOL CLOSURES

The Rutgers University Geology Museum (RUGM) is dedicated to educating its visitors through exhibits, tours, field trips, and other special programs that require in-person interaction. However, in the wake of the pandemic, the RUGM had to find new ways to interact with the public. Thus, an online program called “Ask A Geologist” was launched, featuring a variety of geologists and scientists from related natural history fields. Each event consisted of a 20-30 minute presentation about a geology-related topic, followed by a 20-30 minute “Question and Answer” session with the scientist. Additionally, educational activities from a variety of sources were posted on the RUGM website to engage children with hands-on activities related to the event topics.

The “Ask A Geologist” Series has so far consisted of 47 presentations between late March 2020 and December 2021 from scientists in various Rutgers Departments, as well as twenty-one external organizations and universities. These events have been viewed over 6,000 times. Although these events were aimed primarily at elementary and middle school age children, viewers of all ages frequently participated. Even after the RUGM reopened to the public, “Ask A Geologist” programs continued virtually twice per month to continue reaching viewers nationwide. Additional virtual events have also been created using this model in order to meet the needs of the general public during these unprecedented times. Not only are they easily adaptable, but also accessible, allowing us to better engage with our audience. Furthermore, these virtual programs are tailored to meet NGSS standards and can be used in K-12 classrooms, as well as in college classrooms for introductory courses.