Science Matters: A Monthly Lunch & Learn
Kansas City Public Library
Innovation Synopsis
Science Matters is a monthly lunch & learn co-hosted with the Linda Hall Library. We focus on science topics that impact our region, encourage participation in citizen science projects, and try and have a little fun. We have developed partnerships with many local nonprofit organizations, museums, environmental groups, the Missouri departments of agriculture and conservation, and Kansas City officials. Our high-quality program keeps our patrons connected to their surroundings in profound ways.
Challenge/Opportunity
We try to find engaging speakers who are able to explain scientific concepts in everyday language and give meaningful examples. We want the information attendees learn at this library program to offer them new or deeper ways to interact with their community. When we have citizen science topics, we try to empower our community members to make a difference by sharing their observations with local and national groups. For instance, when we have a lecture from the city engineer on a major infrastructure project, constituents are better positioned to support/reject public funding for these projects.
Key Elements of Innovation
The key to our success is building relationships across several sectors of our city. The program is co-hosted with the Linda Hall Library, a private library of engineering and technology. Together we bring great lectures and conversations about science to the urban core. While we have lectures on topics as serious as the loss of native prairies or the engineering of local infrastructure, we also have fun with experts who talk about the science behind Kansas City Bar-B-Que or distilling spirits.
Achieved Outcomes
Our outcomes include attendance numbers ranging from 35 to 155 for a lecture. Our success is seen in the numerous partnerships, some of which have grown into other programing. For example, a naturalist with the Missouri Department of Conservation, gave a lecture for Science Matters and learned that our system has a seed library. Her interest in that program resulted in our tabling at their events, such as the Hummingbird Festival, which in turn grew public interest in our seed library and this science program. We recently had a field trip to the Kemper Museum of Contemporary Art for a lecture on the science of art restoration, and now we are looking at ways to collaborate with their education programmer. Science Matters is about introducing people to the amenities and resources our city and region have and making everyone feel welcome and connected. We have received amazing feedback from the community. We even have organizations reaching out to us to present.
