It is common for industry professionals, faculty, and graduate students to conduct outreach to K-12 schools and in informal locations such as fairs, science centers, or open houses. But what are the most effective ways to engage participants in activities and how should the information be presented? As part of this workshop, participants will learn how to most effectively present activities in optics and photonics that will maximize engagement while considering the audience and the location. They will also learn how to train others using the skills learned in this workshop.

Looking for some ideas, activities, and demonstrations you can use at outreach events? This workshop will present several demonstrations and activities that are easy to deploy and of high interest to students. In addition, each activity will include a discussion of how to best explain basic light, optics, and wave concepts to various audiences. Some of the activities will include: Using diffraction gratings to compare and contrast the spectra seen various light sources; using a simple hand lens to image objects and compare the types of images produced; how lasers are used and are different from other sources of light such as an incandescent light bulb. In addition to free magnifiers, diffraction glasses, and a color-changing LED light bulb, optics and photonics posters and outreach DVDs will be available for attendees, demonstrating how light-based technology is used by everyone, every day.