Community Outreach

Physics Outreach Committee

The Physics Outreach Committee aims to illustrate the role which physics plays in everyday life to inspire students to look more favorably at physics and science in general. Our hope is to show students that they can use physics to understand the world around them. In particular we try to tailor our demonstrations and hands-on activities toward their areas of interest (music, sports, etc.).

The Physics Outreach Committee hosts several Physics Family Fun Day events each year for the community. The committee also brings classroom experiences, performs demonstrations and offers hands on activities to local students, both within schools and to home-schooled groups.

Featured Outreach Activity

Physics Family Fun Day

The Physics Outreach Committee aims to illustrate the role which physics plays in everyday life. Our hope is to show students that they can use physics to understand the world around them. In particular we try to tailor our demonstrations and hands-on activities toward their areas of interest (music, sports, etc.).

See All Upcoming Outreach Events

Astronomy on Tap

Astronomy is even better with beer! Scientists, educators, writers, artists & more reveal how they explore the universe at Urban Chestnut Grove Brewery! Each FREE event features accessible, engaging science presentations on topics ranging from planets to black holes to the beginning of the Universe. Presenters are from research and educational institutions like Washington University in St. Louis, NASA Jet Propulsion Lab, and more. Each event consists of two 10-15 min talks, followed by questions and comments. There will also be a trivia session with questions related to astronomy. At the end of the night prizes will be handed to the winners! There is always lots of time to ask questions and interact with the presenters and other scientists who tag along for the beer.

SEE EVENTS PAGE FOR UPCOMING PRESENTATIONS

For more information, contact:

Andrés A. Plazas Malagón
plazas@physics.wustl.edu
@plazasmalagon1 (twitter)

Young Scientist Program

The Young Scientist Program Teaching Teams promote science literacy among students and encourage the pursuit of careers in science by introducing students to areas of scientific study through interactive demonstrations brought into the classroom. Teams of graduate students present the curricula in small groups, fostering a comfortable atmosphere for scientific discussion.

If you would like to request the physics teaching team, visit the Young Scientist Program page.

YOUNG SCIENTIST PROGRAM

Crow Observatory

Crow Observatory is open evenings to the public in the fall and spring semesters.

Visitors can check here or phone 314-935-6278 during viewing hours to see if the Observatory is open.

Observatories

Saturday Science Public Lectures

Fall 2023

The Department of Physics will sponsor a series of public lectures in Fall 2023, to be held at 10:00 am on Saturday mornings. The lecture series will be in 201 Crow Hall beginning October 28 - November 18. These lectures, which are free and open to the public, will be presented by faculty members of the Physics Department of Washington University and are tailored for the general public. Recordings will be posted after the lectures. To join the email list to be notified of future Saturday Science lectures, please email a request to physics@wustl.edu.

The Legacy of J. Robert Oppenheimer

At the end of World War II, J. Robert Oppenheimer was America’s most famous scientist and American science enjoyed enormous prestige and support. The movie Oppenheimer has made accessible his brilliant and complex personality, his essential contribution to the Manhattan project, and his fall from grace post-war at the hands of political enemies. However, even at three hours, the movie could not show his breadth as a scientist and scientific leader. In this lecture series. we will examine Oppenheimer‘s legacy and his position in science and in history.

UPCOMING SATURDAY SCIENCE LECTURES

Previous Saturday Science Lectures