An illustrative example of the symbiosis between community outreach and internal science-communication training

Effective community-targeted science outreach requires well trained science communicators. In this talk, we present a self-sustaining model where graduate students train each other in science communication by developing hands-on workshops, which they deliver to local school children. This model gives the graduate students the experience of giving/receiving targeted feedback to/from their peers as the graduate students develop workshop curricula based on their research or interests. In order to communicate effectively with their audience of middle and high school students, the graduate students are encouraged to make their workshops interactive and experiential, but also interrogative and reflective. The program culminates in a day when local students visit the college campus and engage in a selection of the workshops. Overall, the presenters develop their science communication skills while helping their peers develop theirs and ultimately employ these skills in the service of the community.