Science Train

Traditional outreach events, like lectures and stargazing, have a tendency to become "inreach" events where many of the attendees are already very educated and excited about scientific research. While these events form a good core for an outreach program, additional efforts should be made to reach out to community members with neutral or ambivalent attitudes towards science. Educating in this way can be difficult without coming off as heavyhanded or proselytizing. One possible means for this is through an idea called "Science Train", where a handful of scientists board a commuter train, like the Metro Gold Line, and sit down with a sign inviting people to come ask them about science. This has been done successfully on the Subway in New York City. We'll be planning some similar events to this in the coming months, so stay tuned.