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VIDEO: Spreading Science Cheer
on August 7, 2009
James Trefil, a physics professor, recently realized that he could use "a little sex appeal" to add some spice to his science literacy lessons. This summer, he teamed up with the Philadelphia 76ers cheerleaders for a project on ScienceCheerleader.com. He worked with a scantily clad crew of cheerleaders to offer 18 video lessons with key concepts that adults should know to be a science literate, Fox News reports.
Here's how it works: On the site, you click on the link that says "Brain Makeover." Below an introductory video is a list of science concepts such as "Electricity and magnetism are two signs of the same coin" and "Atoms are bound by electric glue." Click on any one of those links and a cheerleader will appear on a video, adding pom-pom pizazz to basic science facts. There is a more detailed write-up by Trefil beneath each video.
But why cheerleaders?
"Why not cheerleaders?" asked Trefil, the Robinson Professor of Science at George Mason University. "My own philosophy is, any way you can get the scientific message across, that's a good thing."
The site was created by science advocate Darlene Cavalier, one of the original 76ers dancers who is a Master of Science Policy and has spent a decade working for Discover Magazine. On the site, visitors can also take a quiz to judge their scientific literacy.
"Democracy is a place where people who are affected by decisions have a say in how the decisions are made," Trefil said. "And if you don't understand the science, you are effectively excluded from the debate."
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Test your own science literacy at sciencecheerleader.com.
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