A few months ago, I told a well-connected colleague about the USA Science & Engineering Festival. He asked me how he could help and I suggested he help us spread the word. Well, he enthusiastically sent out a blast and I was copied on his email to about forty scientists.
One of the recipients responded to the email, almost instantaneously, saying that he had visited our website and saw a link to our jingle contest. His complaint to the email list was: "What has science come to? Do we really need a jingle contest?" I must admit that I was taken aback as I had initiated the contest. I mulled over his comments for several days, wondering whether I should discontinue the contest.
Then I literally stumbled upon this quote from Nobel Laureate Richard Feynman:
"Our poets do not write about it; Our artists do not try to portray this remarkable thing. I don't know why. Is no one inspired by our present picture of the universe? The value of science remains unsung by singers: you are reduced to hearing not a song or poem, but an evening lecture about it. This is not yet a scientific age."
I believe the answer is a resounding Yes --- Science could use a jingle.
We are nearing the end of the USA Science and Engineering Festival jingle competition and have had dozens of wonderful submissions. I must admit that when I hear a jingle like the following one it does stir in me a grand, passionate feeling about science.
Find out more about submitting your jingle to the competition here.
Prize for the winning Jingle: $500 (and knowing that your Jingle will be heard and sung by hundreds of thousands of science enthusiasts across the country)
Submission Deadline: April 30, 2010
You can sing it solo or with your friends, with your choir or band, in unison or harmony, with accompaniment or a cappella, as long as the words and music are your idea and the entire Jingle is your original idea.
We are looking for a Jingle that
* ⢠captures the spirit of curiosity, innovation and discovery that the Festival is all about
* ⢠is so memorable that people can't stop singing it!
Imagine hundreds of thousands of people humming your Jingle on their way to the USA Science & Engineering Festival Expo Day in the National Mall!
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Jonathon Coulton (the nerd's troubadour) who goes on and on about math and science and programming.
http://www.jonathancoulton.com/wiki/index.php/Discography
Not exactly what you're asking for, but the field is not completely fallow.
This guy has the right idea:
http://symphonyofscience.com/
(probably his first, A Glorious Dawn would be most jingle-worthy)
as do They Might Be Giants:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ty33v7UYYbw
Richard Feynman, not Robert Feynman I think..
@S.L. Thanks for pointing that out! It is Richard. We have corrected that.
Yesterday, I got Wii shoulder after playing baseball for the first time. Now my muscles get tense whenever I write or move my arm in general. Good thing I don't own a Wii myself.
Thanks for pointing that out! It is Richard. We have corrected that.