UCT Chemistry Participates in ACS Outreach Summit: Empowering Science Outreach
From Sunday, 30th September to Wednesday, 2nd October, 2024, representatives from UCT's Department of Chemistry, Dr Samantha Douman and Mrs Laa-iqa Rylands, had the privilege of attending the ACS Outreach Summit. This summit serves as a crucial training platform for chemists passionate about using science outreach to connect with communities and promote the success of chemists within the American Chemical Society (ACS).
The event was hosted by Stellenbosch University, with a special thanks to ACS Senior Portfolio Manager, Dr Lily Raines, who led the event. Her leadership and dedication ensured the smooth running of this impactful summit, which brought together a diverse group of attendees, including chemists (and other scientists) from universities across South Africa and some representatives from industry.
Dr. Lily Raines was a fantastic facilitator and guided participants through valuable sessions that covered key outreach topics such as:
- Effective Communication through hands-on activities and engaging adults in discussions about research
- Event Marketing and how to create impactful science outreach events
- Logistics and planning for successful outreach initiatives
- Fundraising and Assessment of outreach efforts
- Volunteer Recruitment to sustain outreach programs
- Safety in Outreach Settings to ensure a secure environment for both participants and facilitators
A highlight of the summit was the networking opportunities it provided. It was an amazing experience to connect with representatives from so many institutions, with all attendees pledging to stay in contact and share outreach events, as well as resources. The summit was truly inspiring, leaving UCT's representatives with a renewed sense of purpose in science outreach.
The UCT Chemistry team extends their heartfelt thanks to Prof. Willem van Otterlo, Dr. Marietjie Lutz, and ACS for their commitment and collaboration in making this summit a success. We thank the ACS for this wonderful opportunity which gave us such valuable insights and training and for the sponsorship of this event. The insights gained will no doubt enhance UCT Chemistry's ongoing outreach initiatives, further bridging the gap between science and the communities it serves.
