Yale University outreach includes free ‘Science On Saturdays’ program for kids

“Last year, we had 109 different programs that students could come to,” says Maria Parente, coordinator of community programs in science at Yale. Selections range from family nights at the Leitner Observatory and Planetarium, to girls’ science investigations. “They get to see really strong women in science leading the charge,” says Parente.
And that’s one of the goals: to show kids that scientists come in all shapes, sizes, genders and colors.
“We try to bring through a cast of scientists that looks like them. Yale is a very diverse place,” says Zilm, noting the programs hope to dispel the perception that the Ivy League school is an intimidating, exclusive place. “It’s really accessible, very accessible — more accessible than people would think.” 　
Science on Saturdays, created in 2004 and presented by Yale Scientific Magazine, illustrates the collaborative spirit of the outreach. While aimed at middle school students, all are welcome.  The program, held three times in the fall and three times in the spring, features fun lectures after the demonstrations. The crowd ranges anywhere from 150 to 300 people.
“We have kids that have attended every single one…which is really amazing,” says Zilm.　The Oct. 15 class is called Birds are Living Dinosaurs: Dinosaurs are Stem Birds and runs from 10 a.m. to noon in the Sterling Chemistry Laboratory. Kids can just show up; there’s no registration.