Bioluminescence for Education and Outreach
摘要
Bioluminescence is a phenomenon that is uniquely suited for communicating scientific concepts to diverse audiences. Virtually everyone is captivated by “living light,” and simple demonstrations using bioluminescence can help communicate key concepts in biology, chemistry, physics, oceanography, ecology, animal behavior, species diversity and phylogeny, evolutionary biology, cell biology, and more. Through the Bioluminescence Hub collaboration, the BL-OG Team was able to design activities and demonstrations for education and outreach to diverse learners, from elementary school children through senior scientists. These included public and school-based outreach events, a practicum and research internships for undergraduates, and a symposium and workshop for scientists. Based on our experience with education and outreach, I describe the key points educators should communicate and provide descriptions of activities, materials, resources, and tips for success in an effort to inspire other educators to teach scientific concepts using bioluminescence.