Leiden City of Science References, Part 3: Media & Products

This is part 3 of a 4-part series of posts in reaction to an inquiry on Twitter from Meta Knol, Director of the Leiden City of Science initiative, about “the most engaging, interesting, mind blowing, and inclusive websites and/or online campaign[s]” in the field of art and/or science.

This post focuses on Media & Products, and previous posts focused on Websites, Channels, and Platforms, and Campaigns and Happenings.

All the same qualifiers and caveats apply to this bunch of references as the last 2 — I’m focusing on science content from my own tiny Western frame-of-reference; I’m drawn to bottom-up & community-focused content and interactions (though I’m clearly a sucker for a good story); and I’m not as impressed with fancy bespoke apps and custom websites as I am with simple, direct, communication with and for people and communities.

So with that being said, here’s a quick list of things I would want rattling around in my head if I were designing a year long festival of science.

Media & Products

Cosmos

  • What: Groundbreaking and wildly influential 1980 television series hosted by (and co-written by) astronomer Carl Sagan. A best selling companion book was also produced. A follow-up series was produced in 2014, and though the science content is clearly more up-to-date I felt the newer version didn’t have the grace and majesty of the original.

  • Why: Cosmos brought the majesty and wonder of scientific inquiry to the masses and inspired generations of people to become scientists and look at our universe (and our role in it) in a new way.

  • Website: …

  • Press/info: Wikipedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cosmos:_A_Personal_Voyage

  • Sample: The famous “Pale Blue Dot” sequence, https://youtu.be/GO5FwsblpT8
    Many full episodes are available on YouTube, https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=carl+sagan+cosmos+streaming

Edge Foundation Annual Questions

  • What: For 20 years (1998-2018) the Edge Foundation asked an “annual question” that is answered in the form of short responses from hundreds of diverse scientists, creatives, and intellectuals. Questions have included, “What is your favorite deep, elegant, or beautiful explanation?”, “What scientific idea is ready for retirement?”, and “What is the last question?” The responses are published en masse on the edge.org website, and selected essays are curated into book form.

  • Why: The Edge questions constitute a unique and powerful example of collective intelligence, where the “the wisdom of the crowd” shines light on complex subjects from diverse points-of-view.

  • Website: https://edge.org

  • Press/info: Wikipedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edge_Foundation,_Inc.. Note that Edge.org founder and editor John Brockman has come under scrutiny as an associate of Jeffrey Epstein.

  • Sample: What Will Change Everything (Published in print as This Will Change Everything), 2009, which had 152 contributors. The essays are here. ,

Magazines — Science and Nature

  • What: The venerable magazines, Science (the peer-reviewed journal of the American Association for the Advancement of Science) and Nature.

  • Why: Both journals have been publishing groundbreaking scientific research and editorials for over 140 years. The magazines have now largely moved online and feature a robust array of newsletters, features, and articles. Many older adults may think of Science and Nature as printed magazines, but for those born more recently the journals’ existence as hybrid digital/print platforms is wholly unremarkable. To me, they are just cool and important content that I happen to interact with through a Web browser.

  • Website: Science, https://science.sciencemag.org/; Nature, https://www.nature.com/

  • Press/info: Wikipedia: Science, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Science_(journal); Nature, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nature_(journal)

  • Sample: Current issues (links above), and social media: Twitter (@ScienceMagazine, @Nature) and Instagram, Facebook, YouTube, etc

Mythbusters

  • What: Quirky, groundbreaking, cult-classic American television series.

  • Why: Unbridled curiosity, unique format, accessible to kids, passionate dedication to experimental scientific methods. The show was unparalleled in its ability to show the role of failure in the scientific creative process. Also, the show had a vibrant back-channel on social media and through email for interaction with fans, and these interactions often had a direct influence on the content of episodes.

  • Website: Homepage on the Discovery Channel, https://go.discovery.com/tv-shows/mythbusters/;

  • Press/info: Wikipedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MythBusters

  • Sample: Moon Landing Hoax, 2008, https://www.dailymotion.com/video/x2m7k1z

Not Enough Dinosaurs on NPR News

  • What: “Science: 8-Year-Old Calls Out NPR For Lack Of Dinosaur Stories” — A young listener complains that there is too much boring content on National Public Radio news and not enough stories about dinosaurs.

    My name is Leo and I am 8 years old. I listen to All Things Considered in the car with mom. I listen a lot.

    I never hear much about nature or dinosaurs or things like that. Maybe you should call your show Newsy things Considered, since I don't get to hear about all the things. Or please talk more about dinosaurs and cool things.

    Sincerely,

    Leo

  • Why: Adults forget how and why kids love the world.

  • Website: …

  • Press/info: “Science: 8-Year-Old Calls Out NPR For Lack Of Dinosaur Stories”, https://www.npr.org/2021/02/09/965953078/8-year-old-calls-out-npr-for-lack-of-dinosaur-stories

  • Sample: …

Podcasts — Science Vs; Ologies

The Electromagnetic Spectrum Song

  • What: A short, catchy, amateur-created song and video to explain the electromagnetic spectrum.

  • Why: Quirky, memorable science-education content from the fringe — familiar to millions of high-school physics students around the world.

  • Website: YouTube (lots of uploads, but this seems to be the most authoritative), https://youtu.be/bjOGNVH3D4Y

  • Press/info: …

  • Sample: …

Zeynep Tufekci – newsletter

Other post in this series: Part 1: Websites, Channels, and Platforms | Part 2: Campaigns and Happenings | Part 3: Media and Products | Part 4: Convenings, Places, Activities