COPUS convened its second Invitational Unconference April 12-14 at the Asilomar Conference Grounds in Pacific Grove, California. Like the first unconference, this event brought together an eclectic and diverse group of science professionals and enthusiasts to discuss sciences' public interfaces.

By design, this conference was smaller than the 2012 event and there was a distinct mission: to capture the potential energy from the first year's event and turn it into a force that rallies the COPUS community.

The thirty-six attendees enjoyed the same shared conversations and sense of renewal that made COPUS I unique, but they also committed to building a framework through which we will facilitate collaborations, engage the broader scientific community, and create measurable impact in bringing science to the public. This event was a beginning rather than an end unto itself.

Another celebration of science is in the making, so stay tuned to hear more about what the COPUS Corps is building and how you can join us in our goals for 2015.

Press contact: Khadijah M. Britton, COPUS
617-997-3394, kmb@betterbio.org

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

March 1, 2013

Washington DC -- The Coalition for the Public Understanding of Science (COPUS) today announced this year's winner of the second annual Paul Shin Award, honoring the unsung heroes of science communication and engagement.

The 2013 winner is Mónica I. Feliú-Mójer, Ph.D., Vice-director and News Editor for Ciencia Puerto Rico. For the past seven years, Mónica has dedicated 20-30 hours a week of unpaid work to Ciencia Puerto Rico (www.cienciapr.org), a non-profit grassroots organization that promotes science, research and scientific literacy in Puerto Rico, all while working toward (and obtaining) her PhD in neuroscience at Harvard University. Mónica explains: "I love the lab bench, but through Ciencia Puerto Rico I've realized that my true passion lies in outreach, communicating science and making it available to everyone."

Giovanna Guerrero-Medina, Ph.D. , Executive Director of Ciencia Puerto Rico, nominated Dr. Feliú-Mójer saying, "Mónica has enhanced science communication directly, through her writings and innovative education programs, but perhaps most importantly, through her example, she has empowered fellow scientists to get involved and do the same. "

Upon receiving the award, Dr. Feliú-Mójer said, "What I love most about Ciencia Puerto Rico is that everyone in the (mostly volunteer) group is equally passionate about making a difference. I am so excited to connect with people from across the United States that share that passion." Dr. Feliú-Mójer will attend the COPUS 2013 Invitational from April 12-14 in Monterey, CA, receiving a $500 cash prize and recognition plaque, while taking part in two days of science outreach networking and educational events.

Co-founder of COPUS, Judy Scotchmoor said, "The Paul Shin award is very special to us at COPUS. In the short time that we knew Paul, we were captivated by his energy and determination to make a difference in the world. The nominees for this year's award were fantastic, but Dr. Feliú-Mójer made an impression on us. Her tireless enthusiasm and commitment to sharing science to reach her community is exactly what we aspire to recognize through this award."

Learn more about the Paul Shin Award.

Download the press release in English or Spanish.

About COPUS

The Coalition for the Public Understanding of Science (COPUS) is a grassroots effort to engage the public in science and increase public understanding of the nature of science and its value to society. What COPUS does is simple: create a network of peers that build community for science through promoting dialogue, building connections, and sharing ideas and resources. Learn more at http://www.copusproject.org.

About Ciencia Puerto Rico

Ciencia Puerto Rico (CienciaPR) is a non-profit organization dedicated to promoting science, research and science education in Puerto Rico and among Hispanics in the U.S. Through its online platform, CienciaPR brings together the geographically dispersed but emotionally connected Puerto Rican scientific community and leverages their collective knowledge and expertise for the promotion of science careers, education and public understanding of science. Learn more at www.cienciapr.org,

Arizona State University's International Institute for Species Exploration announced its top 10 newly described species list for 2011 this week, and the species named through the Year of Science 2009 Biodiversity month activity was on the list!

A newly discovered and yet to be named Bonaire Banded Box Jellyfish (BBBJ) was "donated" to the Year of Science 2009 efforts by scientists Bud Gillan, Allen Collins, Basti Bentlage, and Tara Lynn to provide a really unique opportunity for anyone to participate in the excitement of naming a new species. The naming contest helped participants learn about biodiversity, taxonomy, and how science works.

Hundreds of names were submitted, and seven were posted to the Year of Science 2009 Web site for general voting. After nearly 800 votes, the winner was selected, and the BBBJ went down in scientific history as the now famous Tamoya ohboya.

Are you wondering how Lisa Peck came up with this name? Here is her explanation:

I bet "Oh Boy" is the first thing said when a biologist or layman encounters the Bonaire Banded Box Jellyfish. It is not often that a new amazing species is discovered, especially one so beautiful. I am confident that Bud Gillian exclaimed "Oh Boy" when he saw tourist Vicki Carr's video of the Bonaire Banded Box Jellyfish (a never before seen species of jellyfish). Vicki probably exclaimed "Oh Boy" when Bud called her to tell her the news of her amazing discovery. I am sure that "Oh Boy" was uttered by the 3 people who were stung by the Bonaire Banded Box Jellyfish. In addition, I bet that "Oh Boy" was spoken by the doctors when they saw the wounds inflicted by the nematocysts of the Bonaire Banded Box Jellyfish. Later, the doctors probably uttered "Oh Boy" when they were confident that these 3 people would survive their encounter with the Bonaire Banded Box Jellyfish. And finally, when I saw the website Year of Science: Species naming contest of the Bonaire Banded Box Jellyfish I loudly exclaimed "Oh Boy"!! Therefore I am suggesting the scientific name Tamoya ohboya be given to this amazing creature.

Congratulations to the scientific team Allen Collins, Bastian Bentlage, William (Bud) Gillan, Tara Lynn, Andre Morandini & Antonio Marques and to Lisa Peck! Read more about naming a new species and our species naming contest on the Year of Science Web site!

Press contact: Sheri Potter, American Institute of Biological Sciences
941 321 1573, spotter@aibs.org

March 7, 2012

COPUS - a grassroots network focusing on connecting the public to science -  is hosting its first Invitational Unconference on March 16-18, 2012.  At this event, a group of invited guests will meet at the Biosphere 2 facilities outside of Tucson, Arizona to discuss strategies for increasing public understanding of and engagement with science. Sponsored by the Whitman Foundation, the unconference will bring individuals that ordinarily operate in isolation together to share knowledge, experiences, and discuss challenges. The conference is a think tank, a networking event, a showcase, a forum and a celebration - all rolled into one.

At the event, COPUS will also award the 2012 Paul Shin Memorial Award to William Gomez, a docent at the Jasper Ridge Biological Laboratory in Palo Alto, California.  The Paul Shin Memorial Award was formed to honor the contributions made by former COPUS Core member, Paul Shin, who demonstrated unrelenting passion in promoting good science in everything he did - as a teacher, police officer, and society member.  Paul was an unsung hero of science, and this award enables COPUS to honor his memory, and those like him whose contributions often go unrecognized.  The 2012 recipient, William Gomez is an excellent candidate, embodying the same passion for communicating science that Paul did.

In the spirit of the Unconference, the event agenda will be driven by attendees, which includes 65 science communicators, artists, educators, and yes, scientists. Together, invitees will brainstorm on the opportunities and challenges of the science outreach community, as they focus on three core, interconnected, questions:  What is meant by public understanding of science, what is the role of the scientist in promoting public engagement in science, and how will we know we are successful at our efforts.

The event will also have opportunities for individuals to participate in the dialog via social networking tools like Twitter and Facebook.  "Asynchronous" meeting spaces will pose questions to the larger scientific community for discussion, and anyone can tweet in their ideas and opinions.

You can join the conversation by following us on Twitter - @COPUScore and using the hashtag #COPUS and #sci4all.  You can also join the COPUS Facebook Group. The meeting will also help to define future directions for the network itself.  Like the Unconference, the grassroots COPUS network is driven by its participants' needs and interests.

Stay tuned for more upcoming COPUS Unconference details.

About COPUS

The Coalition for the Public Understanding of Science (COPUS) is a grassroots effort to engage the public in science and increase public understanding of the nature of science and its value to society. What COPUS does is simple - it creates a network of peers that build community for science through promoting dialogue, building connections, and sharing ideas and resources. http://www.copusproject.org

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.

Press contact: Roger Harris, Harris Social Media
919 662 1618, roger@harrissocialmedia.com

February 10, 2012

Washington DC -- The Coalition for the Public Understanding of Science today announced this year's winner of the Paul Shin Award - an annual award honoring individuals for their dedication to communicating science to the public.

The 2012 winner is William (Bill) Gomez, Docent at Fitzgerald Marine Preserve and Stanford University's Jasper Ridge Biological Preserve. Bill was an executive with Syntex for many years and was fortunate to retire early at which point he turned his prodigious talents to teaching and volunteering with various ecology and environmental science groups in the greater San Francisco Bay Area. As a volunteer, his activities vary from speaking to a wide range of visitors about the ecology and biodiversity of the preserves, assisting with research projects, tidepooling for 3rd graders, scuba diving with marine biology students, to sharing science with students at a nearby alternative high school.

Cindy Wilber, Education Coordinator at Jasper Ridge Biological Preserve, nominated Mr. Gomez saying, "Bill's extraordinary work teaching science to the public in both formal and informal ways has contributed much to the public understanding of science and inspired thousands of learners." Stuart Koretz, a fellow docent at the preserve wrote, "His respect and love for the natural world, detailed knowledge of natural history, enthusiastic teaching style, modesty and openness make him one of the great unsung heroes: he works tirelessly, without compensation, out of a strong need to reach out and teach natural science."

Upon receiving the award, Mr. Gomez simply said, "I am deeply honored and overwhelmed." Mr. Gomez will attend the COPUS 2012 Invitational UnConference in March to receive a $500 cash prize and recognition plaque.

Co-founder of COPUS, Judy Scotchmoor of the University of California Museum of Paleontology said, "The Paul Shin award is very special to us at COPUS. In the short time that we knew Paul, we were captivated by his energy and determination to make a difference in the world. Bill Gomez has a similar dedication and passion for the public understanding of science and is a most worthy recipient of this award."

About the Paul Shin Award
The Paul Shin Memorial Award honors individuals for contributions to the public understanding of science. The award is managed and presented by the Coalition for the Public Understanding of Science.

About COPUS
The Coalition for the Public Understanding of Science (COPUS) is a grassroots effort to engage the public in science and increase public understanding of the nature of science and its value to society. What COPUS does is simple - it creates a network of peers that build community for science through promoting dialogue, building connections, and sharing ideas and resources. http://www.copusproject.org

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.

The Inaugural US Science and Engineering Festival took place from October 10-24th, 2010. The grand finale was a two-day Expo on the National Mall, held October 23-24, 2010. During this time, thousands of people traveled to the nation's capital to learn, explore, and celebrate science, technology, engineering and math.

There were over 500 interactive, hands-on exhibits exploring the science of renewable energy, robotics, endangered animals, medical mysteries and much, much more. Major academic centers, leading research institutes, government agencies, high-tech companies, museums and community organizations took part in the festival. Students of all ages could test their knowledge of science and engineering by visiting booths at one of the four festival locations throughout downtown DC. In addition to booths and exhibits, the festival showcased over 50 stage shows featuring science celebrities, rappers, musicians, magicians, and comedians. There was, quite literally, something for everyone!

The events did not occur only in the nation's capital, but also at more than 25 satellite events held across the nation. In Florida, one such satellite event was at Camp Bayou on October 24th, 2010, where people could learn more about several different citizen science programs in the area. This community festival helped connect the public with science and engineering, and also connected scientists with each other. In partnership with COPUS, the festival hosted an informal get-together Saturday evening to build connections between exhibitors. Many exhibitors had the opportunity to meet with one another and talk about their experiences at the festival, as well as what changes they would like to see within their respective fields in the future.

I had the opportunity to work both days at the American Institute of Biological Sciences booth on the National Mall conducting an activity that focused on the Chesapeake Bay Food Web. We were all expecting a large crowd but the turnout exceeded all of our expectations! We had an arts and crafts activity where people could use yarn, pipe cleaners, beads, crayons, and picture cut-outs to make a take-home food mobile of things you find in the Bay. It was great interacting with people and having discussions with people of all ages about the Bay and how we need to preserve it.

The festival was truly a success and I look forward to the next one. If you couldn't make it to DC, hopefully you will make it to a local festival taking place near you soon!

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.

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.