Dissemination of science outside of the university is vital to developing enthusiasm for and participation in STEM. I relish the opportunity to educate the public and spread fascination in the community. My outreach work has been shaped by my ultimate goal of broadening access to higher education and academia. To this end, while at UC Berkeley I’ve supported outreach work at middle school science fairs, the university open day, and at both local and distant schools through the Bay Area Science in Schools and Be A Scientist mentoring programs.
My work can be split by intended outcome and target audience:
Broadening understanding – Presentations to the public
Building pathways to academia – Work within the University
Improving access – Work with schools
Societal benefit – Communicating hazards
Broadening understanding with public lectures:
– Popping the Science Bubble
I presented my work on the inner core in 2019 at Popping the Science Bubble, a public science talk held at Berkeley City Library. The number and depth of questions afterwards (not in the video) was amazing. My slides are available here.
– Berkeley City College
In February of 2020 I gave a lesson on global seismology at Berkeley City College as part of a connection with UC Berkeley to communicate active research.
– CalDay 2019
At CalDay 2019, I based my talk around a question I was asked during my talk at CalDay 2018, “What materials in the Earth are crystalline?”. I spoke to my recent research on determining the crystal structure of the Earth’s inner core using seismic waves. Feel free to use my slides and please contact me for my notes.
(Cover image by Ed Garnero and then modified)
– CalDay 2018
At UC Berkeley’s open day, CalDay 2018, I presented on the what we know about the Earth’s core and how we know it. Feel free to use my slides and notes.
(Cover image by Ed Garnero)
– Bay Area Science Festival 2018
In 2018, I volunteered with the Bay Area Science Festival. With a panel of other Bay Area researchers I explained my investigation into the structure of the inner core to the public.
Building pathways to academia by presenting research to undergraduate students:
– Compass Lectures
I presented my work on inner core structure to physical science undergraduates through UC Berkeley’s Compass program to advertise the range of opportunities in research at the university.
— UPCOMING —
– CalDay 2020
At CalDay 2020 I will be talking about looking into the deep Earth with seismic waves.
Improving access through seismology in schools:
– Remote science
Several times in 2019 I Skyped in to science lessons at a middle school in central Kansas. I served as the expert to which the students could ask questions about earthquakes, complemented their recent lessons on the 1906 San Francisco earthquake. We then spoke about active research and careers in science.
– Visits to the Berkeley Seismo Lab
In 2019 I supported delivering lessons in seismology to visiting middle school students. I presented on the work done at the department and supported a practical lesson about earthquake processes and hazards.
– Bay Area Science in Schools
In 2018 and 2019 I visited grade schools and middle schools in the Bay Area to give lessons on seismology and hazards. I also used this as an opportunity to talk about how the students could get into careers in science.
– Be A Scientist
In 2018 I volunteered as a science mentor in a local school. Over several weeks I helped middle school students design and carry out their own research projects that they then presented at their school science fair. I taught statistical techniques to helps students analyse their results.
Demonstrating societal benefits by explaining earthquake hazards:
– Cal Day 2018
Also on Cal Day I was talking to a family about how we can use a network for Earthquake Early Warning just as a small earthquake conveniently occurred in northern California.
– Shakeout 2018
I supported the Berkeley Seismological Laboratory’s display at the City of Berkeley Shakeout 2018, talking with local residents about seismic hazards and earthquake preparedness.
– The Bay Area Science Festival 2017
I supported the Berkeley Seismological Laboratory’s display at the Bay Area Science Festival in 2017. With props we introduced the children to earthquake science while speaking to the parents about earthquake preparedness.
Dr. Daniel A Frost 