A systematic review of science outreach: characteristics and research quality

This systematic review presents the first comprehensive analysis of international research on science outreach in educational settings, seeking to understand the aims and characteristics of science outreach aimed at young people (i.e. 0–18 years) and the quality of research in the field. A total of 86 publications were reviewed. The analysis revealed a lack of conceptual clarity around science outreach across the publications. It identified that fostering science learning was a key aim of science outreach, along with longer-term aspirations such as increasing participation in science at university or future science careers. The analysis of program characteristics highlighted hands-on experimentation as the dominant pedagogy reported in the literature, with university-based providers typically targeting secondary students. Methodologically, quantitative approaches to researching science outreach in educational settings were most common; however, studies varied in quality, with over a third of publications describing or evaluating science outreach programs without addressing specific research questions. High-quality studies were predominantly university-led and published in education journals. This review illuminates the challenges hindering systematic research and highlights opportunities to develop rigorous, theory-driven research aligned with the intended outcomes of science outreach programs.