ResearchLink Summative Evaluation Report

The National Science Foundation (NSF) awarded funding to the Oregon Museum of Science and Industry (OMSI) and Portland State University (PSU) in Portland, Oregon to support a “Connecting Researchers and Public Audiences” (CRPA) project titled ResearchLink: Spotlight on Solar Technologies. The primary goals of CRPA projects are to communicate to the public about specific NSF research projects. This ResearchLink project promoted public awareness of two NSF-funded projects led by Dr. Carl Wamser at PSU, Integrating Green Roofs and Photovoltaic Arrays for Energy Management and Optimization of Multiple Functionalities and Nanofibrous Conductive Polymers from Aminophenylporphyrins: Mechanisms for Conductivity and Applications in Solar Cells. Through development of facilitated activities onsite at OMSI, offsite outreach at fairs and Science Cafe events, and creation of research-related content on the popular Science Buzz website, the ResearchLink project sought to increase the public’s interest, engagement, awareness, and knowledge of NSF-funded solar energy research and green roof technologies. The summative evaluation was designed to assess the extent to which the ResearchLink program activities have achieved their intended goals of increasing public participants’ engagement and awareness related to the research presented. Appendix includes instruments.