science popularization

A volunteer program to boost middle and high school students’ scientific literacy through hands-on experiments, storytelling, and real-world applications.

INTRODUCTION AND DETAILS

Scientific curiosity can often fade when concepts feel abstract or disconnected from everyday life. In this project, I collaborated with a local secondary school that includes both middle and high school divisions, designing and delivering customized science outreach sessions for each age group.

Role
Curriculum Designer, Lead Presenter, Experiment Facilitator

Duration
2 weeks

Audience
60+ middle school students (ages 12–14)
40+ high school students (ages 15–17)

Setting
School classrooms and science labs

Goals

1. Make science feel approachable and relevant to everyday life.

2. Foster critical thinking and experimentation

3. Track changes in students' understanding and interest using a custom pre/post questionnaire.

Activities

For Middle School

Topics
Basic Scientific Concepts, Essential Biology Knowledge, Practical Applications and Experiments

Hands-on Experiments
Oral epithelial cell staining, Observation of yeast in vivo, Exploring Series and Parallel Circuits

For High School

Topics
Basic Scientific Concepts、Cutting-edge Scientific Discoveries、Practical Science Applications

Hands-on Experiments
Intro to spreadsheet-based data plotting, Acid base reaction experiment, Density stratification experiment

Results and Impact
+2.2

Average gain in standardized experiment scores — improved students’ ability to conduct scientific procedures with accuracy and safety.

+1.8

Boost in data analysis and theoretical understanding — enhanced logical thinking and practical application skills.

+1.6

Increase in science interest and confidence — outreach effectively sparked curiosity and engagement.