UW–Madison Science Alliance Updater – July 20, 2020
July 20, 2020
Science Alliance Updater
51 years ago today two Apollo 11 astronauts set foot on the Moon. July 20 was a Sunday and the date of the annual Schulte Family Reunion in Petrifying Springs Park in Kenosha. The Eagle landed in the mid afternoon but the actual setting foot on the lunar surface didn’t come til later that evening while we were on the three-hour drive home in the dark. So I watched it on the radio. When we finally got home, we peered at the fuzzy TV images from the Moon in black and white, because, well, we had only a black & white TV. Plus, the transmission from the surface was only in black and white.
Now in the summer of 2020, a helluva lot of our science outreach is being done with video cameras. But the Zooms and FaceTimes are in color and sometimes even in high definition. On a smallish videoconference everyone can see everyone, and the banter doesn’t have a lagtime of two and half seconds like conversations between the Moon and Mission Control did. Also, billions aren’t watching. But otherwise: Wow—it’s amazing what half a century can do.
With many public schools deciding to do instruction only virtually, at least for the first quarter, much our outreach and engagement will continue to depend on our talents in connecting with learners online in real time. It’ll be a long stride, if not a giant leap.
In addition to this coming fall, it’s also time to start thinking about the possibilities of re-opening in the spring. Please note the item at #5 below, which invites your RSVP today (July 20) to join the Reopening for Minors Ad Hoc Workgroup of the Office of Youth Protection & Compliance.
Thanks!
Tom Zinnen
Biotechnology Center; and Division of Extension, 4-H
Notable This Week
1. Science Alliance meets by webinar at 10:00 am Monday July 20 online. Email zinnen@biotech.wisc.edu or ejesse2@wisc.edu to receive the link. The agenda includes
a. Welcome
b. Partnering with Student Chapters of scientific organizations, such as the American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, to produce videos and provide live online interactions between UW science students and K12 students and other youth.
c. Discussion of UW–Madison policy this fall on face-to-face programming and videoconferencing programming with youth
d. Update on programs such as virtual Science Festival, Saturday Science from Discovery, and Saturday Science from UW Space Place.
e. Other announcements or topics
2. Please add your upcoming online programs with learners of any ages to the list at http://science.wisc.edu and be sure to include them in the calendar at http://today.wisc.edu and tag them with *Science* and any other appropriate tag.
3. Programming Events
- July 25, Saturday Science, Home Edition, 10 am
- July 25, Saturday Science from UW Space Place, 10 am