Our lab is passionate about engaging the public in science education. As a group, we have delivered public seminars to K-12 students and their families covering topics ranging from hypothesis testing in paleontology to skeletal anatomy and biology. We have visited pre-K and kindergarten classrooms to deliver short lessons on topics ranging across dinosaur paleontology and comparative skeletal anatomy.

“What are a stegosaur’s plates for?” and other age-old dinosaur questions

Ben and Maxine Miller Child Development Lab School: Animal skull and scientific tool demo

Cumberland Elementary School: “Dinosaurs!” Fossils and theories about dinosaurs and their biology.

Bioscience and Engineering at the Market

Our most significant engagement effort is an ongoing NSF-funded program in collaboration with the West Lafayette Farmer’s Market called “Bioscience and Engineering at the Market”. Beginning in May 2016, Russ and two PhD students (Carmen Gondhelekar and Kari Verner) began delivering STEM activities intended for K-12 students and their families at the West Lafayette Farmer’s Market about four times per year between May-September. We also recruit other Purdue research labs to engage with the public through this venue. This is an incredibly fun and relaxed way to convey STEM lessons to members of our community of all ages – from ages 8 to 80!