Community Connections Spotlight: Grad students share activities with diverse groups through outreach program

The thriving of our communities and ecosystems in Hawai‘i is intricately linked to our connection to, knowledge of, and care for the natural world. The world-class research and innovation at the University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa School of Ocean and Earth Science and Technology (SOEST) is intended to be informed by people and place, and accessible and beneficial to all. To honor those who reach beyond academia, we are highlighting members of SOEST who are committed to connecting and engaging with communities and students of all ages in Hawai‘i.
Throughout fall 2024, eight SOEST graduate students participated in an outreach training and development program with a focus on advancing diversity, equity, inclusion, justice, and accessibility (DEIJA) to/in geoscience research and academic pathways.
With support from the Catalyst Awards for Science Advancement, an innovative mini-grants program, a SOEST staff member and two oceanography graduate students, Aaron Judah and Blake Stoner-Osborne, co-led the program. They developed a training workshop to share best practices for science communication and hosted work sessions during which participating graduate students planned and developed their outreach presentations, demonstration, and activities.
“It was such a special opportunity to get to brainstorm new outreach activities with dedicated graduate students!” said Stoner-Osborne. “We’re very fortunate to have such passionate and creative graduate students here in SOEST who are able to connect and share their passions with community members, teachers, and students of all ages.”
Students from SOEST graduate programs in atmospheric sciences, marine biology, and oceanography, including Carla Baizeau, Harold Carlson, Alexus Cazares, Dianne Deauna, Kuʻi Keliipuleole, Emma Layton, Naomi Rohrbaugh, and Chutimon Singhakarn, developed outreach modules and shared them with a range of audiences. This motivated group of students created presentations and hands-on activities for high school students visiting the UH Mānoa campus and elementary, middle, and high schools at their home campuses; a workshop to demystify academic pathways to graduate school; social media videos about the deep sea; and presentations and activities for community members of all ages at public events and a public library.
Their collective efforts resulted in thousands of ‘likes’ on social media and connections with 100 elementary students, hundreds of middle and high school students, and dozens of community members. Through this, the graduate student participants enhanced their communication skills and shared their research and passion with local K-12 students and community members.
“Marcie [Grabowski, SOEST outreach specialist], Blake, and Aaron helped me create a fun sea level rise activity which enabled me to actually connect with high school and middle school students on a topic I am really passionate about,” said Baizeau. “The sessions were so enjoyable and enriching. I am excited to do it again!”
Funding for the SOEST DEIJA Outreach Training and Development program was provided by the National Science Foundation (NSF/GEO #2022937) through a Catalyst Award for Science Advancement.