MAKING COMPLEX CONCEPTS ACCESSIBLE THROUGH OUTREACH
Praxis Course: HART420:
Semester: Spring 2026
Faculty Advisor/Professor: Monique Scott
Community Partner: The Franklin Institute
Field Supervisor: Carly Netting
Praxis Poster:
HART_Susan Robinson
Further Context:
My Praxis experience focused on community outreach and science education. One of my main responsibilities was collaborating with The Franklin Institute Ambassadors to develop materials for interactive learning activities with an emphasis on making human biology accessible and engaging for younger audiences. My work involved creating clear age-appropriate written explanations to accompany each body system based upon their Body Odyssey Exhibit. A central component of this project was an outreach activity designed for children ages 5–12. It features a layered human body puzzle representing the skeletal, muscular, and nervous systems. Each layer can be added or removed so participants can better visualize how the body is structured and how different systems interact with one another. This hands-on visual approach supports learning by making abstract biological concepts more concrete and accessible. I
especially wanted for younger learners who benefit from interactive experiences. One of the main challenges I encountered was translating complex biological concepts into language that children could understand. This required me to think critically about how to simplify information
without losing scientific accuracy or meaning. This process highlighted the importance of accessibility in science communication and pushed me to be more intentional in how I present information to different audiences. Through this experience I strengthened my ability to clearly
and effectively explain scientific ideas while adapting my communication style to meet the needs of a specific audience. Overall, this Praxis experience reinforced the value of outreach and education in making science more inclusive and approachable. It further developed my interest in
combining science with public engagement and educational initiatives in future work.