About Us > Education and Outreach

SOSI’s website provides a treasure trove of information for students, teachers, researchers or anyone with an interest in the sense of smell.  The Virtual Library feature is a free-to-the-public resource with a list of recent scientific articles on smell (many linked directly to abstracts of the article), and a bibliography of significant books on smell-related topics.  Several of the Institute’s publications are also available for download free of charge.  These include booklets such as “Living Well with Your Sense of Smell” and “The Aroma-Chology Review” newsletter. Our Scientific Links section can connect you quickly to other pre-screened websites containing information about the sense of smell.

In 2009, SOSI developed its "Making Sense of Scents" education program in partnership with Weekly Reader Publishing.   This fun, interactive program provides grades 3 - 5 teachers with the ideal way to teach students about the sense of smell, fragrance and how smell is key to survival for all living creatures.  The curriculum fits in perfectly with the National Science Standards for this grade level.  A mailing consisting of kits containing lesson plans, activity sheets for students and scratch & sniff sticker was sent to 5,000 teachers.

Phase 2 of this program was introduced in 2011. It features an online “Making Sense of Scents” Newsletter/Activity Guide for teachers, developed with JMH Education, to be issued 3 times per year. This is much more than your average newsletter…it looks cool to look at, fun to read and exciting for teachers to use and share. It offers teachers, children and parents as array of facts, classroom activities, family fun and technology connections. Again, all information and classroom activities comply with National Education Standards for the targeted grade levels (3-5).

An ancillary “Making Sense of Scents” website can be access from SOSI’s home page. The site is designed for students, teachers and parents. This is where teachers can find suggested lesson plans about scent and the sense of smell along with corresponding activity sheets that can be downloaded and printed for classroom activity. Students will find fun activities they can do on their own or with their parents. Everyone will find a wealth of information resources including “Smelly Vocabulary.” “Fun Facts,” Links to other sites and a “Virtual Library” with lists of books about the sense of smell appropriate for young readers.  Future plans call for the addition of lesson plans and activities for students in upper grades as well.

From 1994 – 2006, SOSI sponsored a National Sense of Smell Day each year themed “Get In Touch with your Sense of Smell.”  This annual event was held at children’s museums and science centers across the U.S. and consisted of a day full of entertaining and educational activities focusing on the mysterious sense of smell.  Although SOSI ceased its official sponsorship of this program in 2007, many museums that participated continue to host their own Sense of Smell Day to this day and SOSI is please to offer assistance and guidance to other groups who are interested hosting their own Sense of Smell Day upon request.