Communicating Science to Future Cyclones

What started as a small and informal student activity hosted at the Ames Library, Science with Cyclones has grown into a public event held each semester at Reiman Gardens, with dozens of students participating and attending. Science with Cyclones is an exercise created and maintained by English 3120 instructors that places ISU students in the role of a scientist explaining complex research to an audience of laypeople. The only difference is that the audience is children in first through fifth grade and their parents.

In the class, ISU students pick a scientific topic and then spend weeks preparing demonstrations that explain the facts without ever “dumbing it down.” Then, on the day of the event, the undergraduates bring their trifolds, dioramas, and interactive examples to Reiman Gardens, where young learners listen, interact, and are encouraged to ask questions. The college students must think on their feet, using what they have learned in class to answer questions and explain their research the best they can.

Meanwhile, Cy parades through the venue, bringing everyone out of their shell with his friendly enthusiasm and entertaining presence. As the students answer more questions, they gain new insight that they incorporate into their next presentation for another audience, refining their descriptions with experience. Each brief interaction with a visitor hones their skill in communicating scientific information—a valuable skill to have in the modern information age. The exercise demands that the students, acting as scientists/educators, consider their audience in their explanations and practice their ability to think and speak eloquently.

Science with Cyclones also benefits the Ames community as it brings together members of the university and the city it occupies. Though some might come just to see Cy, the children are eager to learn and absorb the new information, especially from these college students that they look up to. Event director Dr. Jenny Aune has commented on how important Science with Cyclones can be for some kids: “It’s helpful for young women and girls to see that there are women scientists and all sorts of connections with people that can help them feel seen and heard.”

This feeling of excitement is shared by students who have previously participated in the event: “When I did Science with Cyclones in the fall of 2023, the best-performing group of my whole section was teaching these young children about cell division with animals from Minecraft and using gummy worms to represent chromosomes.” (Din Keserovic, Class of 2025)

Aune and other instructors who have taught the course have commented that in the beginning, most students were skeptical about participating in the event. However, the virtues of the exercise become apparent to the students as they start applying the theories and principles they learned in class. Science with Cyclones is the culmination of what the course teaches students about the practice of science communication.

The program has plans for expansion, with instructors advocating for additional sections of English 3120 so that more students can be included in the event. Aune has this to say to anyone on the fence about taking ENGL 3120 and participating in the program: “It’s great fun! If you’re interested in science or you’re interested in communicating science and 3120 works for your curriculum, then why wouldn’t you take it?”

Written by Din Keserovic
Photos by Hannah Wright