written by Shannon O'Leary and Parvaneh Abbaspour

LCphysX is a web-based platform designed with the primary purpose of teaching undergraduate physics majors in upper-level laboratory courses multi-media science communication skills for engaging in public outreach. Compelling arguments have recently been made for the need to train future scientists to engage with a popular audience using digital media. Developed in partnership with Lewis & Clark College's (LC) Library Digital Initiatives team, LCphysX features short student-produced videos that present projects and experiments from upper-level lab courses to a popular audience. LC's unique Advanced Laboratory course provides students with the opportunity to design, build, and test their own physics projects, and for many students, their project is the main cumulative achievement of their physics education. Indexed, searchable videos on the LCphysX website permanently archive LC physics projects and serve as pedagogical reference points and inspiration for physics faculty and students at LC and beyond. In addition, as the Advanced Laboratory course is a requirement for the LC physics major, all physics graduates will leave LC with an active "link" for their resumé that showcases their technical achievements, as well as their ability to communicate scientific ideas. Assessment of LCphysX's effectiveness in engaging the public will include feedback solicited from high school students across the United States.

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Published November 17, 2015
Last Modified November 17, 2015

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