Documenting impacts of an informal physics program: A mixed methods longitudinal study

Physics has a strong tradition of informal education and community engagement, including demo shows, public lectures, museum exhibits, afterschool clubs, summer camps, etc. Research demonstrates that these efforts can have a variety of positive impacts on the participants, facilitators, and institutions involved. While there are many research studies that document immediate impacts of such informal physics learning experiences, longitudinal studies are less common. We are working to document long-term impacts of one informal physics program that seeks to cultivate interest and support science identity development for marginalized youth through a physics-based afterschool program. Through a mixed methods study, we are documenting the types of impacts this program can have, and is having, on youth participants (e.g., college attendance, science identity, persistence in STEM, among others). In this talk, we present initial results from the first year of data collection including both quantitative (survey) and qualitative (interview and artifact analysis) results about youth participants' science identity. We also discuss the longitudinal research approach and next steps.