The Rochester OSA Optics Suitcase: 13 years of middle school outreach

Cristina Canavesi; Theresa M Donlon; Stephen D Jacobs

doi:10.1117/12.927633

15 October 2012 The Rochester OSA Optics Suitcase: 13 years of middle school outreach

Cristina Canavesi, Theresa M Donlon, Stephen D Jacobs

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Proceedings Volume 8481, Optics Education and Outreach II; 84810M (2012) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.927633
Event: SPIE Optical Engineering + Applications, 2012, San Diego, California, United States

Abstract

The Rochester Section of the Optical Society of America (ROSA) developed a youth outreach program in 1999 to be presented in middle schools by scientists, engineers and engineering students. The objective was to kindle interest in technology careers, especially those related to optics, photonics, and optical engineering. Three in-class experiments using individual take-home theme packets that explore color in white light were devised early in the program, and these have proven to be the key to its success. Over the past 13 years, with financial support from a variety of organizations and individuals, ROSA has manufactured and delivered over 450 Optics Suitcases to groups in 34 US states and 54 countries. The presentation guide is now available in 4 languages besides English. In this paper, the elements of an Optics Suitcase presentation are reviewed, and examples of outreach events are used to document its success.

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Cristina Canavesi, Theresa M Donlon, and Stephen D Jacobs "The Rochester OSA Optics Suitcase: 13 years of middle school outreach", Proc. SPIE 8481, Optics Education and Outreach II, 84810M (15 October 2012); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.927633

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