Connecting Undergraduate Research with the Public through Innovative Technologies

该项目将地球与环境科学系教授的核心课程科学课程“未来立法者的科学”与公众联系起来，通过种植水培食品，使用数据蛋收集空气质量数据以及使用触摸箔技术。项目团队与当地企业和图书馆合作，在窗户上放置触摸箔，让公众了解空气质量数据以及土地覆盖使用和空气质量变化的影响。 触摸箔是一种薄膜，可以放置在任何玻璃表面上，例如店面窗户，它将该窗户转换为大型交互式触摸表面（本质上是转换巨型iPad中的窗口）。使用这种游击队科学方法为公众提供了在他们不希望看到科学的地方学习科学的机会。目标是提供公众可以理解和感兴趣的科学数据和分析，不需要参观博物馆或类似机构，而是在公众经常散步、参观或花费时间的地方。该项目还从事非科学专业的水培生产和学习如何进行科学研究，以调查最大限度地提高产量的过程。 农产品在当地市场出售，以帮助维持该计划，并帮助社区获得新鲜，健康和当地食品。

The project connects a core curriculum science course taught in the Earth and Environmental Science department entitled, Science for Future Legislators, with the public through the growing of hydroponic food, air quality data collection using data eggs, and the use of touch foil technologies. Partnering with local businesses and libraries, the project team places touch foils on windows to engage the general public in understanding air quality data and the impact of land cover use and changes in air quality. A touch foil is a thin film that can be placed on any glass surface, for example a storefront window, which transforms that window into a large interactive touch surface (in essence transforming the window in a giant iPad). Using this guerilla science approach affords the general public the opportunity to learn about science in places where they would not expect to see science. The goal is to provide access to scientific data and analyses that are understandable and of interest to the general public in a way that does not require a visit to a museum or similar institution but in a place where the public takes a regular walk, visits, or spends their time. The project also engages non-science majors in growing produce hydroponically and learning how to conduct scientific research to investigate processes that maximize production. The produce is sold at a local market to help sustain the program and to help the community have access to fresh, healthy, and local food.