Developing a nationwide K-12 outreach model: Physiology Understanding (PhUn) Week 10 years later

Area of Science:

• Physiology Education
• Science Outreach
• K-12 Curriculum Integration

Background:

• The American Physiological Society (APS) initiated Physiology Understanding Week (PhUn Week) in 2005 for K-12 outreach.
• The program aims to enhance student understanding of physiology and related careers.
• It also seeks to support teachers in integrating physiology into their curriculum and encourage physiologist involvement in outreach.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the formative goals of the PhUn Week program, including growth, diversification, and community development.
• To assess the program's reach and impact on K-12 students and educators.
• To identify future directions for program enhancement and research.

Main Methods:

• Analysis of member-provided data from nearly 600 PhUn Week events over 11 years.
• Tracking program growth in terms of sites, participants, leaders, and event types.
• Monitoring the development of a community of practice among outreach-involved physiologists.

Main Results:

• The PhUn Week program has met its formative goals, demonstrating significant growth since 2005.
• Nearly 100,000 K-12 students have been reached, with increasing numbers of participating physiologists and events.
• A supportive community of practice has formed, and the diversity of event models has expanded.

Conclusions:

• PhUn Week is a successful and growing initiative in K-12 physiology outreach.
• The program effectively engages students and educators, fostering a community of practice among scientists.
• Future plans include regional targeting, impact research, and enhanced training for outreach participants.