Smith College's Moodle

Public trust in science has been tested in recent years not because the public stopped caring about knowledge, but because many felt unseen or unheard by those who create it. This course invites students to reimagine neuroscience outreach as an act of rebuilding trust, where connection, transparency, and empathy are as important as accuracy.

Students will gain hands-on experience designing and leading neuroscience-based outreach for youth audiences, with a focus on building authentic, two-way relationships between scientists and communities. Through interactive workshops, reflective writing, and community partnerships, students will learn how to communicate neuroscience in ways that foster curiosity while honoring the lived experiences of others. Throughout the semester, we will examine what makes science communication trustworthy exploring how humility, listening, and representation strengthen public confidence in scientific knowledge. Guest speakers, mentorship sessions, and shadowing opportunities will provide students with diverse perspectives on how scientists can be both educators and allies.

The course culminates in a capstone outreach event where students design and deliver an interactive neuroscience experience for local middle school students, serving not only as science ambassadors but as builders of trust in the next generation of thinkers.