April 26, 2012
Award-winning Catholic University Chemistry Professor Diane Bunce joined Bill Nye the Science Guy April 26 for a congressional briefing about the value of science outreach activities in generating interest in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM).Bunce gave a presentation titled "Why Is Informal Science Important?" as part of the briefing at the Hart Senate Office Building in downtown Washington, D.C."The thought of science and engineering sounds scary and non-accessible to most people," says Bunce, who specializes in teaching chemistry-phobic students in nursing and non-science majors' chemistry courses. "The goal of informal science is to meet people where they are and involve them in the science that underlies their everyday lives," she adds. "Informal science attempts to help people understand that science is another filter for looking at the world."Bunce noted that informal science takes place through museums' hands-on activities; festivals; TV, newspaper, and magazine experiments; and Internet access such as YouTube."Our job in informal science is to help people first experience science and then reflect on that encounter to gain the confidence to pursue scientific understanding of the world," says Bunce. "Some ways to do this is to make science a family affair where children and parents work together on science activities." The briefing - titled "Reaching the Crowd with Science & Engineering Informal Education" - was sponsored by the American Chemical Society (ACS). Part of the ACS' Science in Congress program, the event was coordinated with the office of Sen. Dick Durbin, D-Ill., and honorary co-hosts Sen. Chris Coons, D-Del., and the STEM Education Caucus with co-chairs Rep. Roscoe Bartlett, R-Md., and Rep. Daniel Lipinski, D-Ill.Martin Storksdieck, director of the Board on Science Education, National Research Council, served as the moderator.
In addition to Bunce and Nye, the panelists included Lawrence Bock, executive director of the USA Science & Engineering Festival, and Jamie Bell, project director of the Association of Science-Technology Centers (ASTC), which is based in D.C. Nye is a scientist, engineer, comedian, author, and inventor whose mission is to foster a scientifically literate society. He serves as CEO of The Planetary Society - the world's largest space-interest group.Bunce is also a participant in the "Nifty Fifty (times two)" program, which sends top researchers as speakers to middle schools and high schools throughout the Washington, D.C., region to inspire students in STEM topics.Catholic University is among more than 100 institutions across the country that have teamed up with the USA Science & Engineering Festival, which will be held April 28 and 29 at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center in D.C. The festival is the largest celebration of science and engineering in the country.As part of the "Nifty Fifty" program, Bunce gave a hands-on presentation titled "Chemistry of Egg Dyeing and Other Seasonal Activities" at Mount de Sales Academy in Catonsville, Md., earlier this month. The presentation was based on one she gives to her chemistry class at CUA.Bunce's creative approach to teaching has included an annual parade of elements at Halloween, a special Christmas-themed lab, and St. Patrick's Day lectures on the chemistry of hangovers.She is the recipient of the 2012 American Chemical Society George C. Pimentel Award in Chemical Education, the 2007 James Flack Norris Award for Outstanding Achievement in the Teaching of Chemistry from the Northeastern Section of the ACS, and the 2001 American Chemical Society Helen Free Award for Public Outreach.
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