The Science of Really Gross Things: Engaging Young Learners in Biomedical Science

描述(由申请者提供)：北卡罗来纳大学教堂山分校的莫尔黑德天文馆和科学中心将与北卡罗来纳大学国家卫生研究院资助的北卡罗来纳大学研究人员和一位主要的儿童书籍作者密切合作，通过“解决真正粗俗事物的科学：通过全穹顶天文馆展览和支持课程吸引年轻学习者参与生物医学科学”，将开发一个非正式的科学教育媒体项目和一套基于媒体项目的动手、基于探究的课程，供科学中心、博物馆和学校使用。 该项目将建立未来研究人员的渠道，并通过在9-13岁的儿童中激发对健康科学和相关职业的兴趣和兴奋，并建立他们的科学内容知识，来提高对NIH资助的研究的认识。为了实现这一目标，研究人员将开发一个完整的穹顶天文展览；为夏令营、课后计划、童子军计划、科学中心实地考察、科学俱乐部和学校创建相关课程；并制作一张DVD，突出健康科学领域的职业。 此外，该项目将使用几种方法针对传统上在生物医学领域任职人数不足的人群，包括在多媒体和课程产品中介绍来自任职人数偏低人群的专业人员，对传统上在卫生科学研究职业中任职人数偏低的人口较多的县进行外联访问，并制作产品的西班牙语版本。 使用知名品牌“大观”是一种创新的方式，可以与目标年龄段的儿童建立联系，并鼓励非正式科学教育社区在其丰满的穹顶影院接受健康科学内容。此外，该项目的中心辐射式方法进一步鼓励采用这一方案，提供非正式的科学场所，提供引人入胜的体验(中心)和必要的辅助课程(轮辐式)，以扩大该节目产生重大教育影响的潜力。 一个强大的项目团队可以最大限度地提高项目成功的可能性。该团队包括来自莫尔黑德的Full Dome制作人和教育工作者，以及NIH资助的具有适当科学内容领域专业知识的研究人员。此外，调查人员还创建了一个由顾问、咨询委员会成员和评估员组成的网络，建立反馈循环，以确保高质量、科学准确、教育有效的产品。 调查人员将使用免费和基于收入的传播战略相结合，以确保该奖项的产品得到广泛分发。这些战略为该项目的产品在国家科学中心、博物馆和教室中的广泛应用带来了巨大的希望。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): Through "Addressing the Science of Really Gross Things: Engaging Young Learners in Biomedical Science Through a Fulldome Planetarium Show and Supporting Curricula," Morehead Planetarium and Science Center at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, in close collaboration with NIH-funded researchers at the UNC and a leading children's book author, will develop an informal science education media project and a suite of hands-on, inquiry-based curricula based on the media project for use in science centers, museums and schools. This project will build the pipeline of future researchers and create awareness of NIH-funded research by generating interest and excitement among children age 9-13 in the health sciences and related careers and building their science content knowledge. To achieve the objective, the investigators will develop a fulldome planetarium show; create correlating curricula for summer camps, afterschool programs, scout programs, science center field trips, science clubs and schools; and produce a DVD highlighting careers in the health sciences. In addition, the project will use several methods to target populations traditionally underrepresented in the biomedical fields, including featuring professionals from underrepresented populations in the multimedia and curricula products, making outreach visits to counties with large populations traditionally underrepresented in health science research careers, and producing a Spanish-language version of the products. The use of a known brand, "Grossology," is an innovative way to connect to children in the target age range and to encourage the informal science education community to embrace health-science content in their fulldome theaters. In addition, the project's hub-and-spoke approach further encourages adoption of this programming by providing informal science venues with both an engaging experience (hub) and the supporting curricula (the spokes) that is necessary to extend the show's potential for having significant educational impact. A strong project team maximizes the project's likelihood for success. The team includes fulldome producers and educators from Morehead and NIH-funded researchers with expertise in appropriate science content areas. In addition, the investigators have created a network of consultants, advisory board members and evaluators that will create feedback loops designed to ensure high-quality, scientifically-accurate, educationally-effective products. The investigators will use a combination of free and revenue-based dissemination strategies to ensure that the products of this award are broadly distributed. These strategies hold significant promise for creating broad use of this project's products in the nation's science centers, museums and classrooms.