Using Technology to Facilitate Access to STEM Experts and Facilities

Sharing scientific discoveries, knowledge, and research is an important part of NASA and other agencies role in inspiring, engaging, and informing audiences. How can you use technology to share these discoveries while actively involving your audiences, inspiring curiosity, and promoting scientific thinking? One way is to provide live interactive virtual access to Subject Matter Experts (SMEs) who can share their research and discoveries. Another is to virtually bring audiences into the facilities where research is being conducted. Virtual connections with SMEs and/or with SMEs in their laboratories enable a powerful context in which audiences can gain a greater awareness and understanding of research being done while providing access to authentic and powerful assets. It also enables programs to efficiently and effectively share assets and scientific content with a broad national audience. Science engagement staff at the Astromaterials Research and Exploration Science (ARES) Division at the NASA Johnson Space Center have facilitated these types of virtual connections using easy-to-use and easily accessible online technologies.

The use of technology in learning environments has increased over the years. For some educators, however, finding ways to incorporate and utilize these technologies in their environments can be challenging. Technical requirements and unfamiliarity with tools can sometimes be interpreted as barriers to involvement. By using simple to use web conferencing tools such as WebEx and Zoom, we have been able to successfully connect with diverse audiences across the nation to provide them with access to NASA assets they would not otherwise have had access to.

Through our virtual connections with educator-led groups across the nation, we have many lessons learned on how to make these connections efficient and effective for all involved. How can you aim to maximize your audience? How can you best prepare participants and SMEs for a positive, effective and interactive experience? How can you share the experience with those unable to join live? Our experiences, lessons learned, and participant feedback continue to drive and refine our efforts and can provide ideas to others on how to inspire curiosity and engage audiences in scientific thinking through the effective use of easy-to-use technologies.