Under one Arkansas sky: bridging science and community in rural America

The 2024 total solar eclipse offered a rare opportunity to connect world-class space scientists with communities in rural America. Here, we reflect on a grassroots outreach event held in Dardanelle, Arkansas, a small farming town located along the path of totality. Nearly one hundred participants including NASA and university affiliated scientists, engineers, educators, students, and local residents gathered to witness the eclipse together. Visitors conducted scientific demonstrations, hosted a star party, and carried out a successful eclipse observation experiment. These activities provided authentic, personal encounters between scientists and the public, fostering curiosity and trust in a region rarely engaged by NASA programs. Drawing on this successful experience, we recommend that future scientific funding agencies expand their outreach efforts by direct partnering with small towns, collaborating with local libraries, and involving scientists with rural ties. These strategies broaden the direct community engagement with real scientists across the United States helping them to develop a scientific identity and a sense of involvement with the space sciences.