Outreach and Community Engagement

The School of Earth and Environmental Sciences (SEES) connects science with the community through educational outreach, local partnerships, and research. Faculty and students share discoveries, encourage curiosity, and explore practical approaches to environmental challenges.

Science Outreach

Geosciences outreach introduces students and the public to Earth science through interactive activities. Past partners have included local pre-K–12 schools, Region 12 teachers and students, the Mayborn Museum, scouting organizations, school geology clubs, and Master Naturalists.

Activities have included rock, mineral, and fossil identification; scientist talks; fossil digs and collecting trips; solar eclipse events; and hands-on earthquake hazard demonstrations.

To explore an outreach partnership, contact Sharon Browning, Geosciences Lab Coordinator.

Baylor Community Garden

Environmental Science helped develop and advise the Baylor Community Garden alongside campus and community partners. The garden supports efforts to address local hunger and provides opportunities to study sustainable gardening and water use. Students have designed and tested water-use technologies intended to inform educational activities and assist other community gardens.

Learn more about the Baylor Community Garden or follow @baylorcommunitygarden and @baylor_ehum.

Water Research and Community Connections

Baylor researchers use local facilities and environments to investigate water quality, resource recovery, and aquatic ecosystems.

• Baylor water reuse research facility: Provides a setting for testing traditional and innovative water treatment and resource recovery technologies in partnership with local wastewater infrastructure.
• Baylor Experimental Aquatic Research (BEAR) Facility: Connects controlled experiments with the complexity of natural aquatic environments, helping researchers study interacting chemicals and other stressors.
• Lake Waco Wetlands: Provides a setting for studying wetland ecosystems and the diverse plants and animals they support.

Research Beyond Campus

Faculty research connects students with environmental questions locally and around the world. The Usenko Research Group studies the movement and distribution of organic contaminants through fieldwork and laboratory analysis, including whale earwax research and atmospheric chemistry.

Waco Downtown Farmers Market

The Waco Downtown Farmers Market connects the community with local food producers and has provided internship opportunities for students interested in local food systems and community-based learning.

World Hunger Relief

World Hunger Relief offers another connection to community efforts addressing hunger and sustainable agriculture. Explore its website to learn about its work and current opportunities to get involved.