Ray Schaack at Penn State University has alerted me to this great opportunity for high school students and undergraduates. Details of this project can be found on the program flyer (text copied below), as well as on the website: http://reseach.chem.psu.edu/resgroup/chemistryvideos.html. Eligible students can work either by themselves, or preferably in small teams, along with the supervision of a chemistry mentor (teacher, instructor, professor). Students are encouraged to email us to declare their intent to submit a video (chemvideos@chem.psu.edu). A YouTube group has been created (chemvideos2009) for students to join and upload their videos. Along with the official submission, students are asked to provide a written script and completed entry form, available on the website.
Video Competition for Undergraduates and High School Students
Ever think about telling the world about your research? Ever want to show your chemistry teachers how to do demonstrations in a way that is actually exciting? Ever desire to creatively portray the importance of chemistry in daily life? Now you have the chance!!! Win an all-expenses-paid trip* to the 238th American Chemical Society National Meeting in Washington D.C. (August 16-20, 2009) and be featured on the competition website! Deadline for submitting your videos: Friday January 30, 2009
Check website for details!
http://research.chem.psu.edu/resgroup/chemistryvideos.html
E-mail: chemvideos@chem.psu.edu
Chemistry research
Tell the world about your research project in a way that is understandable to fellow high school students and undergraduates, as well as your grandmother and some random person at the mall.
Chemistry demonstrations
Perform a chemistry demo in a way that YOU would like to see it done (safely and with proper supervision!)
Creative submissions
Show your creative side and develop a video that demonstrates the importance of chemistry in daily life (e.g. animations, song parodies, skits, interviews, etc.)
* The fine print: All registration, travel/airfare, and hotel expenses will be covered, plus some meal expenses. Any U.S. student or group of U.S. students in high school or college (undergraduate) is eligible to apply. Students must have some association with a chemistry mentor (teacher or professor) who can verify that the chemistry contentof the video is scientifically accurate. Videos should be in a format appropriate for YouTube, and should be approximately three minutes or less in length. Sponsored by the National Science Foundation.
This just came in from Ray Schaak:
I wanted to let you know that we have extended the deadline for the NSF-sponsored Nationwide Chemistry Video Competition until March 15. We have had a number of excellent entries from teams of undergraduate students all across the country. These students produced interesting interpretations of chemical demonstrations (supervised and safe), descriptions of their undergraduate research and techniques they use, and creative skits and song parodies. Other students have expressed interest in making animations, doing interviews, and other creative ways of portraying chemistry in a scientifically-accurate manner. Several faculty have devised ways to use this opportunity as a learning tool, incorporating the video-creation process into their classes either as projects or bonus opportunities.
Please let your students know that we have extended the deadline until March 15 and could possibly extend it a bit beyond that if needed to facilitate even more high-quality entries. We hope to encourage even more students to submit entries, and multiple entries by a student or team are also welcome.
Students can email chemvideos@chem.psu.edu with any questions or to declare their interest in submitting a video, and the website address is:
http://research.chem.psu.edu/resgroup/chemistryvideos.html
Thank you for helping to support this outreach effort!
Best regards,
Ray Schaak