How we achieve our mission

The Science Outreach Initiative creates, implements, and evaluates collaborative outreach and engagement activities between the University of Pennsylvania, the Philadelphia community, and other partners. We pay particular attention to equity among populations that continue to be underrepresented in STEM fields. We facilitate the bi-directional translation of mathematical, scientific, technological, and engineering knowledge between the University and its partners by fostering community connections. In addition, the Science Outreach Initiative supports the development of grant proposals for STEM outreach and engagement activities.

Who we support

The Science Outreach Initiative is a resource for faculty, staff, post-docs, and students at the University and partners of the University of Pennsylvania.

Ways to work with us

The Science Outreach Initiative is working to provide a comprehensive service to faculty, postdocs, and students, enabling them to successfully meet the outreach and Broader Impacts criteria of sponsored projects. To that end, our services include:

• working one-on-one with faculty/post docs/grad students who are pursuing a research grant requiring Broader Impacts or education plans – please email us!
• facilitating the development or growth of outreach programming with groups of faculty and staff within an individual department (or multiple departments)
• establishing evaluation plans for the effectiveness of Broader Impacts activities on the audiences they serve
• conducting focused workshops on what is involved in successfully articulating and evaluating the Broader Impacts criterion

These services can be tailored to best serve the needs of individuals and departments. Please contact us and let us know how we can help.