The summer school will cover key concepts and skills in public engagement through highly interactive lessons. Participants will be guided in creating a customized implementation plan for a public engagement event or activity.
Deadline
The 2026 program has passed. We look forward to offering this program again in the summer of 2027. Sign up for updates.
Program fee
If accepted, the cost to participate in the 2026 summer school was $50. Fee waivers were available for those with financial need.
Program dates
The 2026 summer school met virtually for four half-days of programming from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. ET on June 22, 23, 29, and 30. Participants were expected to attend all four dates.
Program eligibility
Any APS member who is interested in building their public engagement skills and moving their engagement ideas into action is eligible to apply.
Students and early career members are especially encouraged, but we welcome members from any career stage.
Summer school lessons and materials will be in English, but we welcome members who would like to design a public engagement event that will be implemented in a different language.
Program structure and topics
Each session in 2026 included a mix of direct instruction, individual reflection, and group activities in breakout rooms:
- Day one, June 22, 2026, topics included: introductions, elements of strategic public engagement, and exploring factors affecting the relationship between science and society.
- Day two, June 23, 2026, topics included: identifying your engagement goals, audience, and partners, as well as science communication and trust-building tactics.
- Day three, June 29, 2026, topics included: Engagement outputs, outcomes, resources, and evaluation.
- Day four, June 30, 2026, topics included: troubleshooting when the unexpected happens, advocating for your public engagement work, and a graduation in which participants will be invited to share their public engagement plans.
Programs expectations
Participants in the 2026 summer school were expected to:
- Attend and engage actively in all four days of the summer school. Lessons will take place virtually from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. ET on June 22, 23, 29, and 30.
- Contribute and engage actively in group discussions and breakout-room activities.
- Complete short (20 minute) homework activities between sessions.
- Create a public engagement plan using a provided template and present this plan during the final session on June 30.
- Complete a feedback survey at the end of the summer school.
- Abide by the APS Code of Conduct.
Benefits to participants
This program provided participants with:
- Training on skills and tactics for strategic and impactful public engagement
- A reusable public engagement plan template for designing effective public engagement events
- Recognition with a digital badge awarded via Credly and publicity via APS communication channels
- Networking opportunities with physics-focused public engagement practitioners
Learning objectives
By the end of the 2026 summer school, we anticipated that learners would:
- Feel an increase in confidence and readiness to effectively participate in physics-focused public engagement activities.
- Have a better understanding of the constellation of factors that affect the relationship between science and society. This will enable participants to identify where they can meaningfully contribute and advocate for their participation in public engagement.
- Feel a stronger connection to other physics-focused public engagement practitioners.
- Gain confidence using language, frameworks, and mental models to talk about their physics-focused public engagement activities with peers, partners, and institutional leadership.
Contact
If you have questions, please email the APS Public Engagement team.
