Reactor Sharing Outreach Program at Penn State Radiation Science and Engineering Center

Penn State's Radiation Science and Engineering Center (RSEC) has a well-established education and outreach program. We see over 3000 visitors per year including over 1000 K12 students and 1200 curious members of the public. We seek to expand this effort to more User Institutions throughout the region by doing the following: • Hire a team of student interns to (1) assist in instructional and logistical efforts that drive the outreach program; (2) inject creative methods for communicating nuclear science; and (3) develop strategies to expand outreach opportunities within our region and beyond. • Offer educational assistance grants to institutions so that they can secure transportation to and from Penn State for reactor tours and hands-on activities. • Offer experimental assistance grants for high school and college student projects involving neutron and gamma irradiation capabilities at the RSEC; and • Revamp and relaunch the PA STEM Teacher's Workshop at RSEC by focusing on the new PA STEELS standards in our content and offering financial assistance to education professionals across the Commonwealth. Success in these areas will be defined if we manage to: • Inspire Penn State students in nuclear science and technology fields to engage with the public in ways that promote good-will towards their interests and studies. • Increase K12 User Institution engagement and create relationships with those User Institutions with whom we will see visit for years into the future creating a pipeline of students into the fields of nuclear science and technology. • Collaborate and assist researchers within our region at schools, colleges, and universities. • Reach Commonwealth students through their STEM teachers, by providing hands-on learning and inspiration through the Teacher's Workshop. This effort will be led by RSEC Director, Dr. Kenan Ünlü who will serve as the Principal Investigator and the RSEC Outreach Coordinator, Zachary Van Horn who will serve as Co-PI and Project Lead. Together they have decades of experience in nuclear research and educational outreach and with the staff and support of the RSEC staff and Penn State University at large, we are certain to achieve these goals and more.