Still basking in the enthusiasm birthed during the Year of Science 2009, The Coalition for the Public Understanding of Science (COPUS) keeps the momentum and hosts it first invitational conference On March 16-18, 2012, at the Biosphere 2 facilities outside of Tucson, Arizona. Actually it is an UnConference, bringing together artists, educators, scientists, technologists, hobbyists and more to discuss and demonstrate who we share science and technology to others. Over 60 participants have signed up to attend the meeting; and they are coming from every walk of life and from all over.

The COPUS UnConference will be a participant-driven meeting and we'll focus on three major themes: 1) Building a community of public science engagers, 2) Defining the overarching issues in public science engagement, and 3) How to measure the impact of public science engagement locally, regionally, and nationally.

The goals of the meeting are to

• strengthen and expand the COPUS network by creating new connections among attendees during and after the meeting;
• create an architecture of engagement for future science convenings that cross domains of science outreach (informal, formal, academic, and corporate) that do not normally interact, but need to;
• provide direction for future activities of the COPUS community by evaluating what is currently being done, identifying new needs, and building upon ongoing successes; and
• provide a new forum and recognition for those conducting public outreach.

True to the grassroots mission of COPUS, the UnConference program is being crafted in real time by the attendees and non-attendees alike at the COPUS Unconference Wiki. You can also join the conversation by following us on Twitter - @COPUScore and using the hashtag #sci4all - for anything related to public engagements/outreach of science. You can also join the COPUS Facebook Group.

Stay tuned for more upcoming COPUS UnConference details.

Memorial Day is the kickoff to the summer and where is the best place to spend the summer? Outside, of course, and family camping is one of the most popular summer time actitivites. On June 25, 2011, the National Wildlife Federation is asking everyone to go camping! The Great American Backyard Campout is a grassroots initiative to Leave No Child Indoors! The National Wildlife Federation is raising awareness and also trying to raise funds for more outdoor youth programs. They are also encouraging families and communities spending time together outside camping. And while you're spending time outside - in the fresh air - why not explore nature (and science)!

So get your family and neighbors together and go camping - at a local campground, state or national park, or in your backyard. Being outdoors is a perfect time to connect to science. You can explore biology, conservation, ecology, astronomy, geology, geography, environmental science, and more.

To get you started in your science exploration while camping, COPUS is recommending these Citizen Science projects and activities:

Firefly Project - Remember catching fireflies as a kid? Well, re-live the fun and help scientists learn more about fireflies. Count the number and type of firelflies you see the night of your campout and throught the summer.

CitizenSky - Sleeping out under the stars? Help scientists track changes in the constellations. At many locations, local Astronomy clubs will be bringing out the telescopes and watching the night sky.

Geocaching - Take scavenger hunting and orienteering to a whole new level. Using GPS technology, you can use your smart phone make the night a bast. Search out and find hidden treasures nearby and leave a little note or token for the next explorer. Geocaches are literally everywhere! Or you can create your own geocaches, submit to the website and let others discover the, Hiking Checklists - I spy with my little eye...Go on a hiking scavenger hunt - through the woods, along the creek, in the park or in your neighborhood. Create a checklist of things to see such as anything in nature that begins with each letter of the alphabet or that's the same color as the T-shirt they are wearing.

And more! The Network for Citizen Science Projects and Resources has a website that lists dozens of projects from counting birds, watching flowers, to games you can play that help scientists learn more about the weather, DNA, and diseases. Check it out and sign up for updates.

The fun doesn't stop there! There are countless numbers of ways to summarize your camping, outdoor and nature experiences from the night. Explore the Art of Science.

Dramatic Interpretation - Act out your favorite plant, animal, or insect encountered or write and recite a poem about nature at the campfire. Host your own Campfire Nature Talent Show. Let everyone shine and howl to moon.

Magic Bracelets - This activity is a favorite among scouting groups. Give everyone a strip of duct tape to tape on their wrist, sticky side out. Collect small little things that have naturally fallen to the ground - like leaves, blades of grass, petals of flowers, fallen seeds and fruits and create a beautiful bracelet. This can also make a great hiking activity if you put the tape around your ankle. At the end of the walk have everyone remove their ankle bracelets to see all of the things that natural stuck to the tape. It's a perfect way to discuss plant and flower ecology and how different kinds of seeds disperse.

Nature Journal - Create your own masterpiece that's part science notebook, part memoir, part art, and part literature. All you need is blank paper, a stick, a rubber band and a hole punch. (A piece of cardboard for weight and stability is a nice touch, too.) Write down your observations of the night - while on a hike or at the camp site. Note the different things you see, feel, or hear. Where did it occur? What time of day was it? How did you react or feel about the experience. Then draw a picture or write a poem or short story about the experience.

Create a Science Zine - Using a regular sheet of black paper, your imagination, and crayons/pens/markers/pencils and whatever you can write your own mini-story book of your camping and outdoor science experiences.

The Great American Backyard Campout is perfect for experienced and new campers alike, but we certainly understand how overwhelming the idea can be if you're really new to it. Nothing can dampen an experience like high expectation and low returns. So don't let your grand adventure suffer from boredom or lack of preparation. Check out this list of 100+ Things to Do Outside (from Urban Science Adventures! © for additional inspiration and this Checklist of Camping Essentials from Outdoor Afro.

So, sign up for the Great American Backyard Campout and let us know how much fun you had sleeping under the stars and exploring science.

Have you started planning for participation in the The USA Science & Engineering Festival??

The Inaugural USA Science & Engineering Festival will be the nation's first celebration of science and engineering innovation in our nation's capital. The festival will run for two weeks, October 10-24, 2010. Its capstone will be a two day Expo on the National Mall, featuring exhibits and performances from some of the most dynamic speakers and performers in science and engineering, including: Darlene Cavalier - The Science Cheerleader, the Banana Slug String Band, Nick Walker - the Weather Dude, science comedian Brian Marlow, chemist Dr. Joe Schwarcz, and many more! The festival is supported by over 350 leading science organizations including Lockheed Martin, Popular Science Magazine, and Scientific American.

However,this celebration is not confined to our nation's capitol - this is a nationwide celebration. Organizations across the country are encouraged to host a Satellite Event in their communities, during the same weekend -- October 23 and 24, 2010, when hundreds of thousands of people will celebrate science on the National Mall. In fact, if your organization already has an event in the works, then you can register it as a Satellite Event of the USA Science & Engineering Festival. Satellite Events can be as small or as big as you want. They range from a single activity to a full-fledged Festival. They include Science Family Days, contests, workshops, Citizen Science projects, a science scavenger hunt, or whatever you want it to be, as long as it is educational, fun, science-related, and free to the general public! You create it, and the USA Science & Engineering Festival team will help you market it by including your information on the Festival website. To host a Satellite Event, please click here. Fill out a brief online form to let Festival organizers know you are planning an event. Or partner with a Satellite Event organizer in your area. Satellite Events are currently being planned in several communities throughout the United States. If you would like to partner with a Satellite Event organizer in your community, contact Ruth Kiefer at rkiefer@mindspring.com and she will gladly connect you to the right people.

For more information about the inaugural USA Science & Engineering Festival visit www.usasciencefestival.org.

A focus group of science outreach advocates met at the University of California Berkeley March 22-23, 2010. Thanks to the generous support of The Whitman Institute, fifteen scientists, educators, and public engagement specialists from across the United States convened to discuss the future directions of COPUS - The Coalition on the Public Understanding of Science.  One of our many tasks for the one and a half day meeting was to outline the future and significance of COPUS beyond its very successful Year of Science celebration that engaged thousands of people, through numerous programs that took place across the country.

In the first of a series about the future of COPUS, I am introducing the newly formed COPUS Core - the individuals involved in shaping the future of COPUS.

Introducing the COPUS Core

Make summer fun. Make a science engagement video and win cash prizes to support science or math education at your school!

The Kavli Foundation in partnership with SciVee, is hosting a “Why Science is Cool” video contest. The Kavli video contest is structured to offer unlimited opportunities for teachers to mine their curriculum concepts more deeply while engaging their students to explore science and engineering from a personalized standpoint. All students in grades K-12 are eligible to compete. They produce a 30 - 90 second video about why they think science is great. Videos should be creative and demonstrate the student’s enthusiasm for science and engineering.

Participants in the COPUS Project website (COPUS) enjoyed a fantastic Year of Science 2009. It was a twelve-month celebration of every discipline of science and we met our goal of engaging the public in science and innovation. However, our work is not done; and neither is the excitement that was generated from the community science events. In fact, COPUS is revving up its engines to take public engagement of science to the next level; and we want you to be a part of this movement!

COPUS is a grassroots community of individuals, organizations, and institutions who passionately care about enhancing science literacy among all citizens.

COPUS is a network. We are a community of scientists, engineers, teachers, students, parents, and everyday people who are committed to sharing science with everyone! We catalyze connections among those committed to facilitating communication of science to society.

COPUS is a resource. We share information about local, regional, and national science outreach and public programs. COPUS is a conduit to participation in public outreach. We facilitate communication and collaboration of local outreach partners to community programs. We also mobilize volunteers to participate in local and national scientific celebrations, such as the Year of Science 2009, and the USA Science & Engineering Festival 2010. Finally, we coordinate content such as Understanding Science, a resource created by and for COPUS community members, to help communicate the scientific process to the general public.

Our emphasis is to connect people to each other and everyone to science outreach resources.

Ready to join the COPUS movement?
If you participate in broader impacts for your research or through your professional organizations, then you already are. Simply, sign up on the COPUS Project website and let us know how you share science in your local community or participate in public outreach programs.

Not participating in an ongoing broader impact project? Then we recommend participating in an upcoming Community Science Event. Here are a few days to mark on your calendar:

May 12, 2010, is National Lab Day. In communities all over the USA, local teachers are conducting exciting hands-on science activities for their K-12 students. Local scientists, science organizations, and volunteers work with these educators to make it happen! See what is happening in your area and sign up to volunteer. http://www.nationallabday.org/

October 23-24, 2010, is the USA Science & Engineering Festival Expo in Washington, DC. The country's first national science festival promises to be the ultimate multi-cultural, multi-generational, and multi-disciplinary celebration of science in the United States. The Expo is being celebrated nationally, as well. Local universities, science organizations, and institutions are being asked to organize satellite event in each of their communities. Share science locally and connect to other science events across the nation. http://www.usasciencefestival.org/

Be sure to drop us a line and let us know how you engage the public in understanding science.