Broader Impacts at the Mayborn
Connecting Baylor researchers with our community
The Mayborn’s Broader Impacts Programs provide professional development trainings for faculty and students, assistance in developing hands-on activities for outreach, and opportunities to engage directly with the public through our programs and events.
Our Most Popular Broader Impacts Programs and Events
Meet the Scientist
Meet the Scientist events are opportunities for labs to share their research and engage with visitors through fun activities or experiments.
Single table event for faculty and/or students
2 hours engaging with museum visitors
Flexible scheduling
Teen Takeover
Teens collaborate with STEM experts to create science activities for an after-hours event.
1-2 faculty collaborate with teen advisory board and our Museum Engagement Team
After-hours event (once per semester)
30-40 teens is average attendance for each event
Discover This!
Discover This events are opportunities for faculty and students to share their knowledge with visitors through fun hands-on activities.
Single table event for faculty and/or students
2 hours engaging with museum visitors
Flexible scheduling
Sic 'Em Science
Our premier event of the year! A day of science fun and hands-on activities throughout the museum.
10-15 groups invited to participate
3 hours engaging with museum visitors
Annual event each spring
Portal to the Public
Our Portal to the Public program trains Baylor faculty and students in informal learning and science communication. In 2016, the Mayborn Museum joined the Portal to the Public Network funded by the National Science Foundation and the Institute of Museum and Library Services. Our trainings include strategies for effective engagement, informal education concepts, and a workshop to help you develop hands-on activities for outreach events.
Portal to the Public training is required for anyone participating in Broader Impacts Programs. Upon completion, you will receive an official Portal to the Public certificate.
Upcoming Training Sessions
Fall 2026:
Saturday, September 19 th 9:00 am - 12:30 pm
Friday, September 25th 4:00 - 7:30 pm
Friday, October 16th 4:00 - 7:30 pm
Spring 2027:
Saturday, February 6th 9:00 am - 12:30 pm
Friday, February 12th 4:00 - 7:30 pm
Saturday, March 6th 9:00 am - 12:30 pm
To sign up for a Portal to the Public training session or to learn more about the Mayborn’s Broader Impacts Programs, contact April Love at A_Love@baylor.edu.
What our Mayborn Research Partners Say
“The Mayborn has been an ideal collaboration for our lab. We consistently receive top marks for broader impacts on our NSF grants and the training experiences afforded to our students have been outstanding. Museum staff are enthusiastic, organized, and supportive. Baylor faculty are fortunate to have such an amazing resource for communicating their science to the public and enhancing the broader impact of their work.”
Dr. Michael Scullin, Ph.D. Associate Professor of Psychology and Neuroscience, Director of Sleep Neuroscience and Cognition Laboratory.
Featured in the Baylor College of Arts & Sciences Magazine:
https://artsandsciences.baylor.edu/news/story/ 2026/research-shines-bright-mayborn-museum