Outreach
As part of the land-grant mission of Michigan State University, the College of Natural Science works to develop, apply, and share knowledge to serve the public good. Outreach and engagement occurs when scholarship is applied directly for the public good and when the relationship between partners is reciprocal and mutually beneficial.
The following areas of the College work to provide outreach to many audiences outside of the traditional campus community.
Abrams Planetarium serves as an astronomy and space science education resource center for Mid-Michigan. The planetarium is an outreach unit of the Department of Physics and Astronomy and offers a variety of planetarium shows to the public - preschool through senior citizens.
Astronomical Horizons Lecture Series
This free evening lecture series is held monthly during the academic year at Abrams Planetarium. Astronomy group faculty from the Department of Physics and Astronomy provide a free presentation on the latest developments in astronomy.
The Bug House, Bug Camp and Insect World Science Camp
The Department of Entomology offers a educational programs to stimulate interest in insects and the world of science. The Bug House is located in the Natural Science Building and features a large exhibit of pinned and live insects. Tours are on an appointment basis, Monday through Friday. Insect World Science Camp is a four day camp for kids 9-12 years of age that focuses on exploring and studying insects in their natural environment. Bug Camp is a special 1/2-day science program for young children beginning their discovery of the insect world. Programs are designed for 6-8 years and 9-11 year olds.
Frontiers in Biological/Physical Science
The Frontiers in Science Weekend Workshop Series provides teachers with secondary science credentials to meet with top MSU researchers on cutting-edge scientific developments. The program focuses on new science developments and provides a network of science colleagues with whom to discuss teaching strategies.
This summer event brings grandparents and their grandchildren to campus for three days of exploration and learning as they live together in the dorms, attend special programs and enjoy the MSU campus.
High School Honors Science Program
The High School Honors Science/Mathematics/Engineering Program provides students who are entering 11th or 12th grade the opportunity to engage in intensive research work over a seven-week period. The program not only educates individuals about the research process, but provides the social context for such knowledge and expertise to flourish.
Instructional Outreach
CNS offers courses for people enrolled as lifelong education. View a list of summer off-campus courses or check the MSU Schedule of Courses for all courses, including off-campus, online, study abroad and on-campus.
Joint Institute for Nuclear Astrophysics (JINA)
JINA's outreach programs are focused on connecting the science of JINA with all audiences - from the academy to secondary school students to the public. JINA is a collaboration between MSU, the University of Notre Dame, the University of Chicago, and Argonne National Laboratory.
Kellogg Biological Station (KBS) Outreach Programs
KBS offers many different programs for children and adults. In addition to offering year-round attractions like the Bird Sanctuary, Manor House and Dairy Center & Farm, KBS also hosts Youth Exploring Science Summer Camp, Dessert with Discussion Lecture Series, and the Land and Water Program with extensive information on shoreline management, cover crops, gypsy moths, timber marketing, field crop ecology, water quality and more.
MSU hosts the Michigan Science Olympiad Tournament each spring.
Michigan's largest public museum of natural history and culture and the state's only land-grant university museum provides many science-related programs.
Science Theatre is an outreach organization run by MSU student volunteers. The students bring entertaining science demonstrations to the general public to spark their interest in science. These demonstrations illustrate basic scientific concepts and inspire audience members to develop an appreciation for science in their everyday lives.
National Superconducting Cyclotron Laboratory
The NSCL welcomes curious minds of all ages to explore the mysteries of the sub-atomic world. The NSCL provides tours, open houses and guest speakers as well as other programs throughout the year.
This 10-week summer outreach program, funded by a National Science Foundation grant, provides mentored research experiences in plant genomics to undergraduate students , secondary science teachers , and faculty at primarily undergraduate-serving colleges and universities.
This website provides a searchable database of youth-related outreach programs at MSU. Search by age or interest to discover the opportunities available.
For more information, visit the MSU Office of University Outreach and Engagement.