Tag: outreach

Published on Aug 2, 2018

Ensuring Cleaner Air and Water

NC State researchers are partnering with communities, agencies and local residents on a wide range of projects to improve air and water quality. 

Published on Apr 21, 2017

Scientists in Training

Building pasta bridges, learning reptile facts and launching marshmallows with a catapult are all in a day's work for NC State engineering students who coach elementary school Science Olympiad teams. 

Published on May 5, 2015

Top 5 Reasons to Garden for Native Bees

Five good reasons to take steps to make your garden welcoming to native bee species. 

Published on Apr 9, 2015

Researchers Roll Out Science Video Game With Demonstrated Results

Researchers are rolling out a science video game and educational curriculum, making them freely available to educators. 

Published on Dec 4, 2014

Bolstering Our Food Banks

The number of people at risk of going hungry in North Carolina is more than one in six. It often falls to the state’s food banks to provide relief from food insecurity — with help from industrial and systems engineers at NC State. 

Published on Jun 9, 2014

Public Engagement and Science Communication at NC State

Editor’s note: This is a guest post by Nicolas Canete, an international student from Paraguay who recently earned his master’s degree in communication at NC State. Most NC State researchers are involved in some form of public engagement when it comes to science communication, but that public engagement takes a variety of forms. I know this because… 

Published on Feb 11, 2014

A Wealth of Wildlife, Right in the Backyard

Zoologist Roland Kays travels the world to study rare species, so he calls it a “cool surprise” to find a wealth of wildlife in the suburban backyards of Raleigh and Durham, N.C. “As scientists, we’ve traditionally thought of residential areas as non-habitat,” says Kays, a faculty member at NC State University and the North Carolina Museum… 

Published on Feb 4, 2014

Student-Powered Service

Grueling as it is, the 5-mile, 2,400-calorie Krispy Kreme Challenge is the end of a longer race for the students who organize it. 

Published on Nov 7, 2012

Navel-Gazing Researchers ID Which Species Live in Our Belly Buttons (But Don’t Know Why)

Researchers have discovered which bacteria species are most commonly found in our bellybuttons, but have still not discovered what governs which species will be found on which people. These are the first published findings of the Belly Button Biodiversity project led by NC State’s Dr. Rob Dunn. The researchers swabbed the belly buttons of 66 study… 

Published on Nov 5, 2012

Vote for This! ‘Self-Folding Origami’ is Finalist in SciVis Contest

I think there’s something amazing about watching a two-dimensional (2-D) sheet of plastic fold itself up into a three-dimensional (3-D) object. The National Science Foundation (NSF) and Science apparently agree, having selected a video (see above) about this self-folding materials research as a finalist in the International Science & Engineering Visualization Challenge (SciVis). Why would… 

Published on Oct 5, 2012

Bringing Bugs Into the Classroom

Editor’s Note: This is a guest post by Dr. David Buchwalter, a researcher in NC State’s Department of Environmental and Molecular Toxicology. Every so often, The Abstract likes to highlight outreach efforts by NC State researchers. This one sounded like fun. Last month, I teamed up with other biological researchers to conduct a workshop for high school… 

Published on Jul 5, 2012

Researchers Seek Public’s Help to Aid Trees

Editor’s Note: This is a guest post by Rosemary Hallberg, of USDA’s Southern Region Integrated Pest Management Center (SRIPMC), which is housed at NC State. The SRIPMC is launching a “tiny terrors” initiative to help protect hemlock species in the region. Those interested in learning more about the project can visit www.threatenedforests.com/tinyterrors, or contact Erin Mester,… 

Published on Jun 18, 2012

Got Ticks? There’s an App for that.

We’ve all heard the stories – Mild winter!  Longer tick season!  Disease! Pestilence! Hide your pets and children!  But it’s summer, and at some point you’re most likely going to be out and about amongst the blood-sucking vermin.  And even when you take the recommended precautions – protective clothing, insect repellents, flea and tick treatments… 

Published on Jun 13, 2012

What Exoskeletons Are Hiding in Your Closet?

Editor’s Note: This is a guest post by Dr. Holly Menninger, director of public science for the Your Wild Life program at NC State, which explores the biodiversity that lives on, in and around us. Your Wild Life is the brain child of NC State professor Rob Dunn. Several months ago, Rob Dunn issued a challenge –… 

Published on Jun 12, 2012

Science Outreach: What Do You Need?

In recent weeks, the science community has engaged in an enormous amount of discussion about science outreach. There are calls from many people, including me, for scientists to take an active role in efforts to share their work with the public. But this leaves many scientists feeling put upon – and understandably so. Scientists have…