Engaging young audiences

A reflective commentary on food safety outreach to school-aged children

Abstract

Introduction

Science outreach plays a pivotal role in fostering understanding of scientific concepts, enhancing community engagement, and inspiring the next gen­eration of scientists. This engagement with the pub­lic is significant for land-grant universities, which were established with the mission to enhance agri­culture education and research and to ensure that knowledge is accessible to the public (Mcdowell, 2003). Included in the mission is a dedicated effort aimed at younger audiences, including elementary, middle, and high school students. Such engage­ments are valuable at stimulating early interest in science. There is evidence that engaging students with hand-on scientific exploration and inquiry enhances their understanding and fosters a positive attitude toward science (Clark et al., 2016; Ecklund et al., 2012). Career fairs, specifically, can serve as valuable platforms for such outreach, particularly with bridging the persistent gap between academia and public understanding. They can help to inform, engage, and inspire students and encourage them to explore various career paths, including agricul­ture and food science. Young people consume food without fully appreciating the intricate com­ponents of the food system, which encompasses agricultural production, harvesting, processing, dis­tribution, and retail. This system is highly intercon­nected and complex, involving multiple stakehold­ers such as farmers, processors, distributors, retailers, and consumers. . . .