The University of Iowa College of Liberal Arts and Sciences (CLAS) has recognized Sarah Larsen, professor of chemistry, with the CLAS Outreach and Public Engagement Award.

CLAS Dean Linda Maxson will present this award April 16 at the College's Faculty Honors Celebration. A complete list of the college's 2012 honorees is available at http://clas.uiowa.edu/faculty/faculty-honors-celebration-2012.

Larsen, co-director of the UI’s Nanoscience and Nanotechnology Institute, is being honored for her educational outreach and for increasing the public’s understanding of nanoscience and nanotechnology.  Through her presentations at public schools and continuing education programs she has formed important alliances with other Iowa institutions, including the Workplace Learning Connection at Kirkwood Community College and the Science Center of Iowa in Des Moines, that are involved in similar outreach.  In these activities and in her mentoring of individual high-school-aged students she has also promoted careers in science, particularly for young women.  Sharing this enthusiasm with her faculty colleagues, she has developed a “Nano-to-Go” demonstration and activities kit that has helped others become involved in science outreach.