I signed up for the Adopt-a-Physicist program run by the APS, and I’ve been “adopted” by three high school classes. The program pairs professional physicists with high school classes, and provides a web forum both groups can access. The students ask questions, and I answer them.
I’d love to be able to link directly to the forums, but they’re password-protected, so you can’t get in. The questions so far have been really good, though, and I’m enjoying providing answers.
Some of my answers have included pointers to the blog, so I thought I’d give a shout-out here to the classes that have “adopted” me. So, “hey” to ABC Public Charter School in DC, Franklin Central School just down I-88 from here, and Manila Science High School in the Philippines.
http://www.plantingscience.org/
The Botanical Society has a well organized, and now well funded, effort to connect classrooms to scientists in a research collaboration. I heartily recommend that scientists find a way of joining in. You get to answer the darnedest questions. It’s fun and educational both ways.