OUTREACH BY MEMBERS OF THE
UCLA BASIC PLASMA PHYSICS LABORATORY

OUTREACH BY MEMBERS OF THE
UCLA BASIC PLASMA PHYSICS LABORATORY

In collaboration with faculty, researchers, and graduate students, Dr. Urrutia has participated in several science fairs where basic physical principles are presented to the community. Because these events are attended by the public at large, the demonstrations are all hands-on and designed to induce the participants to get a feel for what is the scientific method: inquiry, experimentation, and deduction of underlying physical principles. Thus engaged, the public, specially parents, are very receptive when we describe to them our area of expertise: plasma physics. Of course, we also take this opportunity to remind them that these principles are used by engineers to eventually develop useful applications such as computers, the Internet, etc.

Given our increased reliance on telecommunications -- such as pagers, cell phones, satellite TV and radio, GPS services, etc. -- and the important role that plasma physics played, and continues to play, in the development of these technologies, it is increasingly important for the public to be educated on the need to understand basic principles and then build up our knowledge of our physical environment. A science-aware population is essential to our well-being as a nation, and, given the technological basis of our free society, it is increasingly necessary to at least understand the very basics of science in order to be an effective citizen.

Listed below are the events in which our group has participated:

Celebra la Ciencia is an organization devoted to increase participation of Latinos in Science and Family Health programs. Under the sponsorship of the Plasma Science and Technology Institute, faculty and graduate students in our Department have participated in several events organized by this organization. Attendance at our booth has always been strong and responses from attendees has been most positive.

In addition to external events, Dr. Urrutia has also been involved in outreach activities held on campus to visiting school groups as well as students participating in UCLA's outreach programs. He has been joined in these activities by teaching and research faculty as well as graduate students.

If your school would like to have a member of our group be a presenter in your Career Awareness Day or any other event where it would be appropriate to have a scientific presentation on plasma physics, or if your civic organization would like us to have a booth where we demonstrate physics basic principles, please contact either Prof. Stenzel or Dr. Urrutia via email or phone (310-825-7898).