In order to implement our mission we are running two segments of outreach to the community:
1. School Dialogues
For this segment of our science outreach we will be addressing the needs of K-12 students with a two component approach. Each school will have a professional speaker or speakers that represent different careers related to science (e.g. research, technology development, medicine, engine
ering, and industry). These speakers are well known in their respective fields and understand the importance of influencing the next generation to become interested in these fields of study. The second component to our school dialogues will involve Rice student-members of RicEmpower leading activities that engage all students, parents, and teachers at our school dialogue to think outside the box and bring together common principles to understand the practical applications of science to different problems in life. With these two components in place students will be given new reasons to become interested in science and medicine and nurture an appreciation for the art. We leave all students that we speak with a challenge of continuing RicEmpower’s mission outside the school dialogue – to reach into their schools, their communities, and even their households to make a difference and be the change that will inspire their classmates and other people to become future leaders of science.
2. Community Dialogues
These dialogues will address the general adult population and will focus on showing working members of society that science is something worth the time to understand and is worth our tax dollars to invest in. RicEmpower will provide a professional keynote speaker at every community dialogue that addressess his or her specialty and how science in general intersects with everyone’s daily lives. The keynote speaker will be followed by an interactive presentation held by Rice Empower student members. These presentations will actively include the audience’s input and feedback as we all participate in dialogue, with both sides listening to each other and learning. We invite all participants at our community dialogues to leave comments on our website and thoughts they would like to share with other people.
