DEMOS

Our Mission:

At Demos, our mission is rooted in a commitment to fostering science education among local elementary students in New Haven, Connecticut. As an undergraduate volunteer organization at Yale University, we strive to make science not only educational but also enjoyable and accessible. With a rich history deeply embedded in the New Haven and Yale communities, Demos takes pride in being recognized as one of Yale’s most esteemed educational organizations.

Throughout our journey, we have played a pivotal role in shaping the scientific exposure of young minds. In the late ’80s and early ’90s, when local school standards didn’t mandate elementary science education, Demos stepped in to fill the gap. For almost a decade, we dedicated ourselves to introducing thousands of New Haven elementary students to the wonders of science.

Our Activities:

Our activities encompass a diverse range of programs designed to engage and educate. One of our primary initiatives involves classroom volunteering, where our dedicated volunteers actively participate in organizing hands-on science experiments. These experiments are tailored for New Haven elementary schools, with grades ranging from 3-5, and occasionally extending to kindergarten or as advanced as sixth grade. Our modules are crafted to teach students about overarching scientific principles, covering topics such as the human body and chemical reactions.

Join us at Demos as we continue to inspire a love for science, making a lasting impact on the educational landscape of our local community.

Mission

Demos is an undergraduate volunteer organization at Yale University in New Haven, Connecticut, dedicated to educating local elementary students in the basic sciences while showing that science is both fun and accessible. We have a long history in the New Haven and Yale communities and are proud to be one of Yale?s most respected educational organizations. We offer a wide variety of programs. In fact, during the late ?80s and early ?90s local school standards did not mandate that science be taught in elementary schools, and so for nearly a decade, thousands of New Haven elementary students were only exposed to science through Demos.

Student Leaders

Abby Matsuyasu – Co-Coordinator/Co-President Gabriela Berger – Co-Coordinator/Co-President

Activities

Weekly Classroom Program Direct Service Demos is dedicated to teaching science to local elementary school students in a way that is both fun and accessible for all. Our Weekly Classroom Program serves kindergarten through 4th grade classrooms. In this program, Demos volunteers are paired with New Haven Public School classrooms for an entire semester. Each week, volunteers lead 1-hour science lessons and demonstrations designed specifically for 5- to 10-year-old students. These lessons aim to spark curiosity about the natural world, introduce foundational scientific concepts, and build vocabulary that helps students describe and make sense of their environment. Most importantly, the lessons are hands-on, engaging, and fun! Demos Direct Service Demos, an undergraduate volunteer organization at Yale University in New Haven, Connecticut, is dedicated to teaching science to local elementary school students in a way that is both fun and accessible for all. We have a long history in the New Haven and Yale communities, having been the sole source of science education for local elementary school students in the ?80s and ?90s when science was not a mandated part of the curriculum. Offering a variety of programs and servicing hundreds of students, we aim to continue providing interactive science education for the community for many years to come. Demos Direct Service Demos, an undergraduate volunteer organization at Yale University in New Haven, Connecticut, is dedicated to teaching science to local elementary school students in a way that is both fun and accessible for all. We have a long history in the New Haven and Yale communities, having been the sole source of science education for local elementary school students in the ?80s and ?90s when science was not a mandated part of the curriculum. Offering a variety of programs and servicing hundreds of students, we aim to continue providing interactive science education for the community for many years to come. Weekly Classroom Program Direct Service Demos is dedicated to teaching science to local elementary school students in a way that is both fun and accessible for all. Our Weekly Classroom Program serves kindergarten through 4th grade classrooms. In this program, Demos volunteers are paired with New Haven Public School classrooms for an entire semester. Each week, volunteers lead 1-hour science lessons and demonstrations designed specifically for 5- to 10-year-old students. These lessons aim to spark curiosity about the natural world, introduce foundational scientific concepts, and build vocabulary that helps students describe and make sense of their environment. Most importantly, the lessons are hands-on, engaging, and fun! Demos Direct Service Demos, an undergraduate volunteer organization at Yale University in New Haven, Connecticut, is dedicated to teaching science to local elementary school students in a way that is both fun and accessible for all. We have a long history in the New Haven and Yale communities, having been the sole source of science education for local elementary school students in the ?80s and ?90s when science was not a mandated part of the curriculum. Offering a variety of programs and servicing hundreds of students, we aim to continue providing interactive science education for the community for many years to come.

How Others Get Involved

Interested students can sign up to volunteer at the beginning of each semester through our website (https://campuspress.yale.edu/demos/) or by attending one of our information sessions. You can also reach out directly to our current presidents at abby.matsuyasu@yale.edu or gabby.berger@yale.edu for more information.