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Contact Information

P: 864-656-3015
E: science@clemson.edu

Campus Location

118 Long Hall

Hours

Monday - Friday:
8 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.

Connecting With the Community

The College of Science is committed to the University’s land-grant legacy of serving South Carolinians and using our expertise to promote the public good.

Advancing Scientific Literacy

Three children looking at a specimen of a penguin, in a lab.In our outreach, the College of Science focuses on cultivating and advancing scientific literacy in all citizens — children, senior citizens, novices, students, teachers and the general public.

The faculty, students and staff of the College of Science are passionate to generate new knowledge through their research and to share their knowledge and expertise with the broader public.

Science Outreach Center

Many programs are offered for school-age children via the Clemson University Science Outreach Center. To find out more about the programs offered by the Clemson University Science Outreach Center, visit the center’s dedicated website.

 

Science Outreach Center

Programs

Expand the accordions, below, to see the many programs and hands-on activities that the College of Science provides to school-age children, undergraduates and the general public. The programs are organized by type of activity.

  • Camps

    CUSOC Summer Camps

    Join us for hands-on, action-packed, thought-provoking science camps on the Clemson University campus. The Clemson University Science Outreach Center offers both residential and day camps for rising fifth–12th graders. 

    CUSOC Spring Holiday Camps

    Join the Clemson University Science Outreach Center for one or both of these two-day spring holiday camps, which are scheduled to coincide with the spring breaks of several local school districts. These are day camps for rising fifth–seventh graders that take place at Clemson University.

    CUSOC Residential Summer Camps

    The Clemson University Science Outreach Center partners with Clemson’s Summer Scholars program to provide hands-on, immersive science labs. Rising seventh–12th-graders up to age 17 stay in a residence hall and eat meals in a dining hall throughout the week to complete their on-campus experience. Current Clemson students serve as counselors to guide, mentor and answer questions about life as a Tiger. Join us for this one-week introduction to college subjects while being immersed in the culture of Clemson University.

  • Festivals and Special Events

    Be a Tiger Field Day

    Visit the Clemson College of Science’s booths at this free event, which is hosted by Clemson’s student athletes. Come join us for fun, educational games and activities, both physical and non-physical, representing each of the T.I.G.E.R. characteristics. There are snacks, free T-shirts, giveaway prizes, a dunk booth with athletes in the tank, autographs and much more! Don’t miss out on this special annual event and the opportunity for children to learn what it is like to be a Clemson Tiger. Be a Tiger Field Day takes place from 10 a.m.–2 p.m. on the day of Clemson’s Spring Game on the Littlejohn Coliseum lawn at Clemson University.

    Explore Science

    The Explore Science homecoming celebration is held each fall during homecoming weekend. There are fun and games — and lots of learning opportunities — for everyone.

    Gettin STEMmy With It

    The Clemson University Life Sciences Outreach Center partners with Anderson School District Five to offer this free KidX event that puts the fun into fundamental STEM education. Join for hands-on science activities and demonstrations. Only children with a registration will be allowed admittance because of planning and materials provided. Getting STEMmy With It takes place in March at Anderson Mall.

    Website: https://www.facebook.com/AndersonMallSC/

    iMAGINE Upstate

    Visit the Clemson College of Science’s booths at this free event, which is hosted by the South Carolina’s Coalition for Mathematics and Science and partners. The mission of iMAGINE Upstate is to create meaningful experiences that promote a culture of lifelong learning and career readiness with an emphasis on science, technology, engineering, arts and mathematics, innovation, and entrepreneurial activity in Upstate South Carolina. iMAGINE Upstate takes place in early April in downtown Greenville.

    Save the Frogs and Citizen Science Day

    Visit the Clemson Life Sciences Outreach Center’s booth at this Greenville Zoo event. Free with zoo admission, children of all ages have the opportunity to isolate DNA from strawberries and learn about DNA's relevance to species identification and conservation! Save the Frogs and Citizen Science Day is held in April at the Greenville Zoo.

    Tigers on Call for High School Students

    Each President’s Day, Clemson University’s College of Science invites all high school students to discover how to get on the right path to becoming a doctor or other healthcare professional. Join us for this free event which includes informational sessions, advising, tours of some Clemson research labs and a question and answer time. Tigers on Call takes place 9 a.m.–12:30 p.m. annually on President’s Day in the Barnes Center at Clemson University. RSVP at: http://tiny.cc/qgipiz.

  • Field Trips

    Clemson University Science Outreach Center

    The Clemson University Science Outreach Center offers hands-on, standards-based lab experiences for fifth–12th-grade student or community groups. Participants have the opportunity to practice laboratory techniques and see how scientists use these techniques for real-world applications.

    Clemson University Planetarium

    The Clemson University Planetarium is hosted by the Department of Physics and Astronomy. During the academic year, public shows are held on a regular basis, usually twice a month. Groups may also schedule private shows. For more information, please see the planetarium scheduling page.

    Bob & Betsy Campbell Museum of Natural History

    The Department of Biological Sciences’ Bob & Betsy Campbell Museum of Natural History contains over 20,000 mammal, bird, amphibian, reptile and fish specimens, as well as a plethora of taxidermy mounts and articulated skeletons. The museum also houses an herbarium that has one of the largest plant collections in the state. Driven by a passion to engage and educate the community, the museum offers personalized, behind-the-scenes guided tours in addition to off-campus outreach activities designed to instill a sense of respect and understanding of the natural world.

    Clemson Chemistry Tours

    The Department of Chemistry offers tours of its chemistry labs four times each during the fall and spring semesters. The tours are designed for high school students who are considering attending Clemson.

    Clemson Chemistry Connection for Home-schoolers

    The Department of Chemistry offers this outreach effort to provide home-schooled chemistry students with experimental exercises in a university laboratory setting.

    Women’s Basketball Education Day

    Each fall the Clemson Athletics Department invites students eighth grade and below to attend a women’s basketball game free of charge. During this outreach event, the Clemson University Life Sciences Outreach Center provides students with exciting demonstrations that engage students in discussions about real world science applications.

  • Lectures and Talks

    TIGERTalks

    During the spring and fall semesters, the Clemson University Life Sciences Outreach Center hosts TIGERTalks, an outreach event where people come to learn about and discuss recent discoveries in science and technology. An expert gives an informal talk for 20–30 minutes, followed by Q&A and discussion. This event is free and open to all ages. TIGERTalks is held twice each month: 6:30–7:45 p.m. the second Thursday of each month at Viva Wine Bar, Pendleton, and 6:30–7:45 p.m. the last Tuesday of each month at Coffee Underground, Greenville.

    • Contact: Donna Buss
    • Email: dpscrug@clemson.edu
    • Website: https://scienceweb.clemson.edu/cusoc/tigertalks/

    Clemson Math Club

    The Department of Mathematical and Statistical Sciences hosts a math club, which is open to Clemson students and to anyone else who likes to talk about math. During these math club meetings, math experts deliver entertaining and informative talks that lead to a deeper understanding of mathematical concepts and applications. The Math club meets at 5 p.m. most Fridays during the fall and spring semesters in Martin M-102, Clemson University.

    Math and Statistical Sciences Seminar Talks

    Seminar talks provide a space for Clemson math and statistical science professors to share their exciting research with attendees. Seminar talks are free and allow Clemson students, faculty, staff and members of the community an opportunity to engage Clemson professors in dialogue about the fascinating research of math and statistical sciences. Seminar talks are offered at various times throughout the semester.

    Genetics Counseling for Dog Breeders

    Associate professor Leigh Anne Clark provides genetic counseling to dog breeders and owners through presentations at dog shows and breeder/veterinarian continuing education seminars.

    Nuclear Astrophysics Blog

    The Nuclear Astrophysics Blog describes how to use the department of physics and astronomy’s open-source codes to study element formation in stars. The blog is periodically updated.

  • Math and Science Tests and Competitions

    Math Kangaroo

    Hosted by the Department of Physics and Astronomy, Math Kangaroo is an international competition that encourages students in the first–12th grades to learn math by presenting them with interesting and thought-provoking problems. Math Kangaroo takes place yearly at 6 p.m. the third Thursday in March at Clemson University.

    American Mathematics Competition

    The Mathematical Association of America hosts a series of national contests each year to challenge and strengthen the mathematical skills of the country’s youth. More than 350,000 students take the tests each year, which are filled with questions designed to make them think and are sure to leave them talking! Clemson’s Department of Physics and Astronomy proctors the tests on campus.

    American Mathematics Contest 8 

    Students in grades six–eight compete in early November at Clemson University.

    American Mathematics Contest 10/12

    Students in the ninth–12th grade and younger compete in late January or early February at Clemson University.

    USA Biology Olympiad

    The USA Biology Olympiad is the premiere national biology competition for high school students in the United States. The exam provides motivation, curricular resources and skills training for students beyond their classroom experience. The competition takes place in early February in Kinard Laboratory at Clemson University.

    AP Statistics Practice Exam

    The Clemson Advanced Placement Statistics Practice Exam is an annual outreach event hosted by the School of Mathematical and Statistical Sciences each Spring. The event provides high school students with a free mock exam experience in preparation for the national administration of the AP Statistics exam, typically scheduled for early May. The practice exam is scored on-site the day of the event by the participating faculty and AP teachers, which allows students to walk out of the event with a projected AP score. The exam takes place in early May in Brackett Hall at Clemson University.

    Clemson Calculus Challenge

    This one-day contest held each April for high school students is hosted by the School of Mathematical and Statistical Sciences and designed to test students’ knowledge of topics like those found on the AP calculus AB syllabus. The Clemson Calculus Challenge has two facets to the exam- an individual and a team competition. The exam is held in April in the Hendrix Student Center at Clemson University.

    Biology Merit Exam

    This annual event, sponsored by the Department of Biological Sciences, brings in more than 500 middle and high school children to campus for one day to take a themed, comprehensive biology exam and to experience a wide range of hands-on science activities. The exam is held in April in Tillman Hall at Clemson University.

  • School/Library Visits

    Women in Science Day

    Women in Science Day is presented through a collaboration between the College of Science’s WISDOM program (Women in Science Defining our Moments) and the Clemson University Life Sciences Outreach Center. Women in Science Day has two overarching goals: First, to change perceptions about who pursues degrees in science; and second, to recruit women to pursue science majors from Clemson University. Women in Science Day accomplishes these goals by engaging hundreds of local high school students (at two partner high schools) in hands-on scientific investigations and dialogue about career opportunities in science fields.

    CU Investors

    As part of an undergraduate creative inquiry course, CU Investors (for Clemson undergraduate science majors) bring hands-on engaging science labs to local middle schools. CU Investors currently has relationships with two middle schools and visits several times each semester.

    Clemson Student Affiliates of the American Chemical Society

    The Clemson Student Affiliates of the American Chemical Society visits local schools and public libraries in order to give children opportunities to do hands-on science experiments and discuss what it is like to be a chemist.

    Physics Shows

    The Clemson Physics Department visits local schools and public venues, providing children with exciting physics demonstrations that engage students in discussions about the laws of physics.

    Clemson TriBeta Chapter

    This local chapter of the national biology honor society holds occasional science outreach events on Saturdays for elementary school-age children.

Contact Information

P: 864-656-3015
E: science@clemson.edu

Campus Location

118 Long Hall

Hours

Monday - Friday:
8 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.