The Naturalist Outreach Program acts as a 'Speakers Bureau' to send Cornell undergraduates and graduate students to local classrooms and community groups to talk about the natural history, ecology, and behavior of animals and plants. By presenting lively, enthusiastic, well-grounded, and age-appropriate, science-inquiry based presentations, we work to open the world of backyard biology to young people, enrich local 2nd – H.S. science instruction, and simultaneously train Cornell students to communicate effectively about science.  The Naturalist Outreach Speakers Bureau is a response to the national need for attracting students into science, for scientists who can communicate the value of their work to the public, and the need to enhance appreciation for the environment.

My goal is to help inspire a generation of Cornell students to become civically engaged in scientific outreach.

Dr. Linda S. Rayor

The Naturalist Outreach Speakers Bureau and the Naturalist Outreach Practicum [Entomology 3350] course have been supported by: