Why CEEE

CEEE was established to build a stronger connection between CIRES and the educational community and to assist CIRES scientists in developing meaningful outreach components to their research ("broader societal impacts"), as increasingly desired by federal funding agencies. Numerous organizations and agencies have called upon research institutes and scientists to bring their expertise to bear for education. Since dedicated expertise and personnel are required to build and maintain these educational partnerships, CEEE provides infrastructure for this purpose. CEEE personnel stay apprised of the emerging needs of our Colorado and national educational partners so that our contributions are most effective. In addition, our work contributes to the teaching mission of the University of Colorado as participating university citizens.

How We Do CEEE

Individual CEEE projects are shaped by the interface between the needs of educational partners, the interests and ideas of the researchers, the natural opportunities, and fundamental concepts within the research, and existing CEEE projects. As a result, CEEE projects are varied and serve many different groups (teachers, school districts, students, scientists, digital libraries, school groups, etc.). CEEE has a ten-year partnership with local school districts, teachers, and scientists facilitating professional development, student events, and engaging research scientists in education. We have expertise in digital libraries, the use of data in geoscience classrooms, and project evaluation. We collaborate with scientists across a broad range of environmental science disciplines, and with partners nationally, internationally, and locally.

Benefits of this Outreach

CEEE infrastructure ensures CIRES scientists have strong support and collaborators when seeking funding or conducting research that includes broader social impacts or educational components. Contributions are built on the fundamental needs of students and educators to have a greater impact, as described in communications with districts and teachers. The CEEE staff makes the scientists' time spent in outreach more efficient and effective. A CIRES study of the effect of outreach involvement on scientists shows that scientists benefit by deriving satisfaction, improved teaching skills, and enjoyment from their contributions. Other studies confirm these benefits. Outreach tied to research projects provides additional benefits, including satisfaction in one's own research and the enhanced ability to secure funding and demonstrate societal contributions to one's program officer. 

CEEE is of benefit to the institute as a whole since NOAA personnel and projects are also served, contributing to CIRES' value to NOAA (e.g. classroom inquiry workshops for scientists, proposal support, stakeholder workshops). Furthermore, outreach provides an opportunity for CIRES personnel to work together cross-site and discipline.