About Science Action
Science Action puts your education in your hands, whereby Princeton students take up a camera and show how science touches their daily lives.
Science Action is an informal learning project that encourages students to create original online short science videos, addressing themes of science and engineering of great relevance for the 21st century, concerning--
- Climate Science,
- Fusion Physics, and
- Principles of Engineering.
As Science Actioneers, you and your teammates contribute to online informal education by crafting an accessible science capsule. Your science capsule will communicate a nuanced understanding of a scientific topic, convey a mature appreciation for the rigor that underlies the scientific process, and reveal how a specific topic connects to the larger scientific inquiries guiding our modern society.
What’s in a capsule?
A capsule is a short informational audio/video production-- a 3-5 minute narration that helps explain by simple engaging demonstration, acting or metaphor a specific topic in climate science, fusion physics, or principles of engineering. The more specific and detailed your topic, the better your chances of communicating a kernel of knowledge in less than 5 minutes.
What’s a kernel of knowledge?
That’s our lingo for a finite amount of narration that your team will assemble into a clear explanation of cause and effect: how something predicted from our scientific and engineering knowledge, models something observed in the real world.
What’s the plan?
In the Spring 2013 semester, we’ll support groups of 4-5 students with funding to produce one video on a select Science Action topic. (For list of topics, click on individual themes to the left.) Student groups will be mentored throughout the semester by a Princeton Writing Program faculty and present their final videos at the end-of-semester SA1 Video Awards ceremony, on May 10.
Prizes?
1st and 2nd place prizes will be awarded to the two videos that best merge scientific accuracy with an accessible description. A special disciplinary recognition award will be given, as well. Finally, online viewers will be polled for their vote on the most popular video.
What becomes of our video?
All produced videos will be maintained on the Science Action Youtube channel website, becoming part of Princeton's growing library of online information eduction.
What’s the takeaway?
Learn how to:
- Investigate science and report complex concepts through accessible stories.
- Shoot & edit film to depict the process of science through the aesthetic of art.
- Make a capsule of complex knowledge accessible to anyone with a general education.
Logo and website design: The Science Action logo and website are designed by Maryam Patton (Class of '14) of the Princeton Student Design Agency (SDA). The SA logo color scheme was contributed to in part by Eugene Lee (Class of '15) of Princeton's Innovation science magazine and the SDA.
