@39forks creates a quick video of Design Lab’s sound experiments at NSTA, Indianapolis

designlab-nysci:

(Source: designlab-nysci)

Lights, Camera, Science! Explainer TV brings science to YouTube

It may not have the glamour of filming at a Hollywood studio lot, but our Explainer TV program uses all the skills and tricks utilized by professional filmmakers. The program syncs science and education with video editing, marketing and communications to teach our Explainers, those multi-talented, red-aproned exhibit interpreters, to script, produce and film short videos about science.
 
The program has trained more than 20 high school and college Explainers since 2010. At last count, 26 videos have been created, earning more than 13,000 views on YouTube. Video topics include oobleck, ferrofluid and nanotechnology, as well as coverage of our events and exhibits.
 
The resulting videos are humorous and charming, and show the fun of science to viewers around the world. No gray card is needed to know that this program gets it just right.

Calling all makers: Cognizant’s Making the Future scholarship program is here!

If you’re a student pursuing a career in science, math, engineering and technology, you could earn $5,000 by submitting a video of your original “maker” project! NYSCI’s partner in STEM, Cognizant, is offering a new Making the Future scholarship program, with NYSCI’s President, Margaret Honey, chairing the selection committee. Spread the word: whether you’re still in high school and about to enroll in college, or already in college, this scholarship program is a great way to bring your projects to life.

For more information, download the scholarship guidelines.  To apply, download the application form.

Send completed application and email inquiries to: MakingtheFutureScholarship@Cognizant.com

Deadline for submissions is May 15, 2012. 

Making Space for STEM

Move over textbooks. Step aside complicated instruction sheets. On Monday, an unusual space opens that will teach kids and adults how to create and build circuits, metalworks, quilts, crafts, robots, and most importantly, that wacky, out-there project that you were told could never be built.

Maker Space is a new area at NYSCI that is made possible thanks to an investment by Cognizant’s Making the Future education initiative. The space, designed by the Brooklyn-based firm Situ Studio, will feature workshops on topics like sewing, soldering, and programming using open-source hardware. But the real skills being honed will be collaboration, risk-taking, creativity and innovation. These are skills that are necessary for careers in STEM. And skills that will help prepare the next generation of leaders.

“Curiosity, creativity and collaboration all come together in the activities we have planned for this space…” said Margaret Honey, president and CEO of NYSCI. “The network of collaborators that will work with us in this new venue represent an inspiring pool of talent to give our visitors  – especially young children – the tools they need to nurture the innate human tendency to be creative and see the world differently.”

Beginning in May, visitors to NYSCI can participate in workshops and drop-in sessions at the space. Topics will vary but will include sessions on the basics of soldering, sewing (using machines and equipment donated by SINGER^® Sewing Company), and circuitry.

So forget your old notions of what you can and can’t accomplish. At Maker Space, there’s room for all your ideas, but there’s no space for limitations.

Recipes for STEM Learning

The woman looked at the items on the table. Vegetable oil, egg yolks, linseed oil and other ingredients. The elements for a perfect creation were right there in front of her, if only she could find the right combination.

The woman was not cooking. She was attending a workshop where participants mixed powdered pigments with everyday materials such as oils, soap and sand to create unique paints. The workshop was part of the conference Design, Make, Play Growing the Next Generation of Science Innovators, which was hosted by NYSCI in collaboration with O’Reilly Media and the White House Office of Science Technology Policy. Design, Make, Play brought together educators, policy leaders, university researchers, and makers to discuss how the kinds of do-it-yourself innovations on display at the annual World Maker Faire can become inspirations for reforming and improving the teaching and learning of science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) in schools.

Paints weren’t the only things created that day – wooden cars, mini bobsleds, robots, pop-up cards and other projects required participants to try out new techniques, find solutions to problems, and use their inventiveness.

So what’s the best recipe for getting kids and adults interested in science? Start with a base of make-inspired projects then add a dash of curiosity and a pinch of critical thinking. Innovation is sure to follow!

View photos from Design, Make, Play

Design, Make, Play’s lead sponsor is Time Warner Cable’s Connect a Million Minds. Additional support is provided by the National Science Foundation, the Carnegie Corporation, and the Kauffman Foundation.

From Pop-Up Cards to Vibrocrafts

Participants at today’s Design, Make, Play: World Maker Faire Workshop, Phase Two spent the day exploring ways to enrich learning and increase student interest in science and math with projects that focus on making, designing and engineering. Workshop activities included making pop-up cards with LEDs, creating a robot from scratch, and building a wooden car, among others. The two-day workshop is a collaboration between NYSCI and O’Reilly Media.

Pictured: A conference attendee builds a Vibrocraft in a session presented by the Eli Whitney Museum.