During the month of April 2013, the exhibit “Here, There and Everywhere” was displayed at the main library: “José M. Lázaro”, at the University of Puerto Rico (UPR) located in San Juan, Puerto Rico. Dr. Carmen A. Pantoja from the Department of Physics and Dr. Mayra Lebrón from the Department of Physical Sciences organized the events. The exhibit was promoted in the newspaper and on the radio. Ernesto Lucca, a student from the School of Communication (UPR) prepared an advertisement to promote the event on “Radio Universidad” (the UPR radio station) and by social media (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ctB_gsvjR10 ). This promo has his voice, and the background piano music is by Ernesto also.
Dr. Carmen Pantoja took the opportunity to incorporate the exhibit into the course “Descriptive Astronomy”. This is a course of general astronomy concepts open to all the student population at the UPR. During the initial months of the semester the students learned the fundamentals of physics and astronomy themes of the exhibit while learning the regular class material. The students also learned the basic principles of science outreach, using the book “Handbook for Science Educators” published by the French “Programme Promotion de la culture scientifique et technique” and the HTE Activity guide. The students were organized into small groups. Each group organized a presentation for friends, family or schools which they invited to visit the exhibit on a particular date and time. Once the exhibit arrived most students collaborated as exhibit guides and with the hands-on activities not only as a class project but during all of April. Students that are working in undergraduate research in astronomy with Dr. Mayra Lebrón and with Dr. Carmen Pantoja also worked as guides and with the hands-on demonstrations. We had visitors from the UPR community, students professors and employees. We had
many schools (K-12) visit us. We also had visitors from the Puerto Rican community in general.
