Have you seen the National Science Foundation’s new online magazine Science Nation? The NSF’s news release dated June 1, 2009, states that this video program will “take a dynamic, entertaining look at the research, and the researchers, that will change our lives.”
Science Nation will have a new episode every Monday. Each episode consists of a video clip (3- and 5-minute versions), which can be viewed online or downloaded, a text version of the story, and links to other resources on the topic. To date, there have been three episodes: Extremophile Hunter, Unraveling the Mysteries of Tornadoes, and Eyesight to the Blind.
These episodes could be used in a variety of ways: as suggested viewing for interested students, for when you don’t want to start a new topic but have some extra class time, to show students what scientific research looks like, or to illustrate how the sciences are connected. For example, the episode Eyesight to the Blind ties in anatomy, microchip technology, medical research, and genetics.
One suggestion to the NSF — I’d like to see an option for a printer-friendly version of the text. A Spanish version would be useful, too!