Effectiveness of astronomy "science ambassadors" and informal education programs

Ascertain the effectiveness of astronomy-focused informal STEM education initiatives—specifically science ambassador programs and education resources for informal/outreach educators—in preparing informal educators and improving the quality and veracity of the astronomy education they deliver.

Background

Over the past thirty years, professional societies and agencies have invested in informal STEM education through programs such as science ambassadors and curated outreach resources. The paper frames astronomy education within both formal and informal ecosystems and emphasizes varying degrees of content veracity across these ecosystems.

The authors explicitly state that the effectiveness of such informal programs—both for preparing educators and for the quality of education delivered—remains unknown, motivating systematic evaluation of outcomes and impacts.