Physics Outreach HornRaiser Supports Elementary Entertainment, Incarcerated Education and Inclusion Community Programs
The UT Physics Outreach committee has organized a HornRaiser to support four of its physics outreach and education programs.
Donations to the HornRaiser fund basic expenses, travel and supplies for UT student and faculty volunteers who coordinate and run the community outreach events.
The events include a traveling Physics Circus – a spirited, thrilling set of physics demonstrations that entertain and enthrall Austin elementary students. Also supported by HornRaiser donations are the courses offered through the Texas Prison Education Initiative. This initiative offers free physics courses taught by UT physics graduate students and faculty to incarcerated youth and adults.
Donations will also help make possible a new two-day "Physics for All" Workshop and the Alice in Wonderland summer research program. The Physics for All initiative targets underrepresented, low-income students and “supports the goal of increasing applications, acceptances and enrollment in college and university science programs among these students,” according to the HornRaiser page. The Alice in Wonderland program invites female high school students to actively investigate physics in research labs over the summer.
Chair of the committee and associate physics professor Elena Caceres said the fundraiser opens February 5, 2020 and will accept donations for 45 days. The campaign hopes to reach a $5,000 target in that timeframe, to ensure each program has the resources to reach each community.