A Blog Around The Clock

Continuing with the introductions to the sessions on the Program, here is what will happen on Sunday, January 17 at 10:15 - 11:20am:

A. Article-level metrics - Peter Binfield

Description: In an attempt to measure the article, as opposed to the journal it is published in, PLoS has recently implemented a suite of article-level metrics on all PLoS Articles. These metrics include online usage, citations, social bookmarks, comments, notes, ratings, and blog coverage. This presentation will go into the motivation for this program; provide information on how it has been implemented; and cover plans for future enhancements. Discuss here.

B. Not too easy - how to make science blogging interesting (and yet stay challenging) for children under 10 - Jessica Riccò

Description: Jessica Riccò edits a science magazine for kids and also does the online science pages for children for the "Deutsches Museum" (= biggest science museum in Germany, located in Munich). She will lead a discussion about how to get children interested in science blogs (and why that's more effective than ex-cathedra teaching). Discuss here.

C. Demos

- Characteristics of Science Popularizers - Joanne Manaster

Description: A video compilation of some of the most beloved science popularizers in the media including Mr. Wizard, Carl Sagan, Bill Nye, Neil deGrasse Tyson, Alan Alda and more. What characteristics do they display that entice viewers into the world of science? Are these the same characteristics required in today's media climate to attract young people to science? Discuss here.

- Dive Into Your Imagination - Annie Crawley

Description: The future of our Ocean and the marine sciences are in our hands. Annie Crawley, founder of "Dive Into Your Imagination":http://www.diveintoyourimagination.com/, is changing the way a new generation views the Ocean. As a filmmaker, photographer and writer combined with field biologist, boat captain and scuba instructor, she will share stories and videos from around the globe while you learn how you can use multi-media, create a program and reach out to your audience. Annie will share with you expedition footage from the SEAPLEX expedition to the North Pacific Gyre that Project Kaisei hired Dive Into Your Imagination to document, cuttlefish fornicating in Indonesia, Great White Sharks from Mexico and special archival footage that has never been broadcast before from the 1960's. There is a balance that is needed for real science to be documented and shared with the world. This session will be sure to inspire and motivate you! Discuss here.

- National Geographic JASON project - Marjee Chmiel

Description: "Free K-12 Science Games":http://www.jason.org/public/WhatIs/Games.aspx from the National Geographic JASON project. Discuss here.

- Darwin and the Adventure - The (i)Movie - Karen James and Kevin Zelnio

Description: In September, 2009, 20 marine research scientists from around South America, the UK and the USA, representatives from The HMS Beagle Project and NASA, and 60 local schoolchildren gathered in Paraty, Brazil for a three-day science, education and outreach program. This short film will include footage from our celebrations of Darwin's bicentenary, our two sailing excursions aboard the Brazilian tall ship Tocorimé (Spirit of Adventure) and a live Q&A;session between Brazilian public schoolchildren and astronaut Mike Barratt aboard the International Space Station. Discuss here.

D. Getting the Science Right: The importance of fact checking mainstream science publications -- an underappreciated and essential art -- and the role scientists can and should (but often don't) play in it. - Rebecca Skloot

Description: Much of the science that goes out to the general public through books, newspapers, blogs and many other sources is not professionally fact checked. As a result, much of the public's understanding of science is based on factual errors. This discussion will focus on what scientists and journalists can do to fix that problem, and the importance of playing a pro-active role in the process. Discuss here.

E. Connections with mathematics and programming through modeling. - Maria Droujkova and Blake Stacey

Description: Computer models and simulations can make abstract mathematics concrete and explore idealizations we make of the real world. We'll discuss how to use widely-available software to visualize mathematics, and how students can do what professional scientists do, like using computers to get numerical solutions when analytic tools are unavailable. Discuss here.