A Method to Increase and Document the Impact of Astrobiology Education and Public Outreach.

Astrobiology education and public outreach (E/PO) efforts vary widely in terms of audience, content focus, duration, intensity, and numerous other characteristics. To identify best practices and gauge impact, an evaluation model is needed that functions across a variety of activities. In 2013, the NASA Astrobiology Institute (NAI) convened 19 astrobiology E/PO specialists for 2 days in Phoenix, AZ, with a professional evaluator to develop an evaluation model.

Effects of Astrobiology Lectures on Knowledge and Attitudes about Science in Incarcerated Populations.

The incarcerated population has little or no access to science education programs, STEM resources, or scientists. We explored the effects of a low-cost, potentially high-impact informal science education program that enabled NASA scientists to provide astrobiology lectures to adults inside 16 correctional institutions in three states. Post- versus pre-lecture surveys suggest that presentations significantly increased science content knowledge, positively shifted attitudes about science and scientists, increased a sense of science self-identity, and enhanced behavioral intentions about communicating science.