HOME RESEARCH AREAS FUNDING AWARDS DOCUMENT LIBRARY NEWS ABOUT NSF NSF supports a wide variety of educational and informational projects for the general public Film: IMAX films and other film projects for diverse audiences Museum Exhibits: Permanent, regional and traveling exhibits and associated outreach programs Television: Innovative programs for children and adults, and science information material for broadcasters More: Radio shows, Web-based resources, community programs, life-long learning opportunities Brains and Beakers In "Brains and Beakers," scientists share mind-blowing inventions and discoveries and the methodologies behind them with students from Youth Radio's Peabody Award-winning media education program. Absolute Zero and the Conquest of Cold This two-part PBS television special is based largely on Tom Shachtman's book of the same name. Airing January 8 and January 15, 2008, The series demonstrates the impact of our mastery of extreme cold on our lives, culture, and future discovery and innovation. "Ask a Biologist" Website Arizona State University's "Ask a Biologist" is an interactive and educational website for students in grades pre-K to 12, and their teachers and parents. Students can "ask a biologist" a question in biology and also access the audio and visual media and educational activities that range from identifying birds to trying their own science experiments. Black Holes: The Other Side of Infinity The science of black holes comes alive in this museum exhibit featuring striking animations and simulations. Cell Lab Enter the "Cell Lab" at the Science Museum of Minnesota in St. Paul to learn about cellular biology, molecular biology and microbiology by completing one of seven different wet lab experiments. Citizen Science Laboratory at Hacienda La Esperanza Reserve Discover the plants, animals and ecology at the Hacienda La Esperanza Reserve in Manatí, Puerto Rico, through various hands-on Citizen Science projects led by experts in the field. Cracking the Maya Code Learn about the ingenious series of breakthroughs that cracked the code of the intricate and mysterious hieroglyphic script left behind by the ancient Maya civilization. "Cracking the Maya Code" airs April 8, 2008, at 8 p.m. ET CSI: The Experience You've seen the hit television crime drama, CSI: Crime Scene Investigation. Now you can play the role of crime scene investigator at this traveling exhibit. You will learn scientific principles and real investigative techniques as you try to solve a crime scene mystery. Cyberchase "Cyberchase"--the Emmy-Award winning animated series on PBS KIDS GO!--tells the story of three kids who use math and problem solving to thwart the dastardly Hacker. "Cyberchase's" extensive multimedia website features hundreds of videos, games and activities to support STEM learning. Design Squad Nation "Design Squad Nation" showcases engineer co-hosts Judy and Adam as they travel across the country, working side by side with teens to turn their dreams into reality through engineering. Dinosaurs Alive This IMAX® film is an adventure of science and discovery. It takes viewers in the footsteps of paleontologists on their expeditions to Mongolia's Gobi Desert to uncover some of the greatest dinosaur fossils ever found. DragonflyTV A PBS science series produced by Twin Cities Public Television that promotes authentic science inquiry by presenting "real kids doing real science." EARTH: The Operators' Manual "EARTH: The Operators' Manual" is a TV program that dispenses with politics, polemics or punditry. Instead, it presents an objective, accessible assessment of the Earth's problems and possibilities that will leave viewers informed, energized and optimistic. "Earth & Sky" Launches Spanish Version One of the longest-running science radio shows, "Earth & Sky," has launched a Spanish-language version. With funding from the National Science Foundation, "Cielo y Tierra" features the latest science news and answer listeners' science questions in Spanish. Einstein's Big Idea NOVA pays tribute to Albert Einstein's remarkable equation, a special two-hour presentation that dramatizes the stories of the men and women whose innovative thinking across four centuries led to Einstein's bold breakthrough. Einstein's Messengers, LIGO Documentary This video examines how LIGO, NSF's Laser Interferometer Gravitational Wave Observatory, is spearheading the completely new field of gravitational wave astronomy and opening a whole new window on the universe. Explore Evolution From rapidly evolving HIV to whales that walked, "Explore Evolution" invites the public to learn about seven current research projects on evolution in organisms ranging from the very smallest to the very largest. FETCH! With Ruff Ruffman "Fetch! With Ruff Ruffman" features real kids, real challenges, real science and an unreal animated host—a dog named Ruff Ruffman. Flight of the Butterflies One of the longest migrations on Earth comes to life in this giant screen film. In addition to raising awareness of the monarch butterfly and the importance of protecting its habitat, the movie aims to increase understanding of the scientific process and the role of citizen scientists in that process. Forces of Nature This National Geographic film--made possible in part by the National Science Foundation--showcases the awesome spectacle of earthquakes, volcanoes, and severe storms as we follow scientists on their quests to understand how these natural disasters are triggered. Forgotten Genius NOVA presents the remarkable life story of Percy Julian--accomplished African-American scientist, self-made millionaire, humanitarian and civil-rights pioneer. Fusion Science Theater The Oct. 2010 cover story for the Journal of Chemical Education describes the surprising outcome of "The Amazing Chemical Circus," a novel form of science outreach developed by Fusion Science Theater. Ganga Join journalist Julian Crandall Hollick on a journey through the Ganga River to explore how this life-sustaining river is in danger of dying. "Sacred Heartland," will air on some National Public Radio stations. on Dec. 9, 2007. Girls' Energy Conservation Corps The Girls' Energy Conservation Corps (GECCo) is a Girl Scout program that interweaves science learning, leadership and stewardship with innovative use of new media to spread the word about energy conservation and climate change. Goose Bumps! The Science of Fear Why do our hearts race, our knees shake, and our bodies sweat when we are scared? "Goose Bumps! The Science of Fear," a new exhibit developed by the California Science Center explores this universal emotion that can save our lives. Hands-On Optics -– Making an Impact with Light "Hands-On Optics" (HOO) is a unique informal science program that pairs optics professionals with science teachers to introduce underserved middle school students to the exciting world of optics. Ice Stories: Dispatches from Polar Scientists What's life like for researchers working in Antarctica and the Arctic? What questions are they asking and what answers are they finding? Follow along on their adventures with "Ice Stories: Dispatches from Polar Scientists." Ice Worlds The spectacular fulldome show, "Ice Worlds," takes planetarium audiences on a tour of the icy landscapes of our polar regions and beyond, introducing them to planet Earth as a unique ice and water world. Journey Into Amazing Caves Join two accomplished cavers as they explore unusual caves looking for important clues about the Earth's past and microorganisms that inhabit its most extreme environments. Kinetic City A fun, Web-based after-school science club for kids ages 8 through 11, that combines exciting online animations and activities with boxes of hands-on science experiments. Making Stuff: Faster, Wilder, Colder, and Safer This four-part NOVA special, hosted by technology columnist and best-selling author David Pogue, examines the cutting-edge science that is powering the next wave of technological innovation, making tomorrow's stuff "faster," "wilder," "colder" and "safer." Merlin's Bird Color Challenge Sharpen your powers of observation--and contribute information to help build Merlin, a bird-identification tool that uses artificial intelligence. Monarch Larva Monitoring Project The Monarch Larva Monitoring Project (MLMP) involves citizens in collecting data that will help to explain the distribution and abundance patterns of monarch butterflies in North America. NOVA/ "Monster of the Milky Way" Fly into the heart of a simulated black hole that lurks in the core of our Milky Way galaxy. NOVA scienceNOW Astrophysicist Neil deGrasse Tyson hosts the new season of the innovative science magazine, NOVA scienceNOW. One World, One Sky: Big Bird's Adventure "One World, One Sky: Big Bird's Adventure" brings the wonder of astronomy to young children through a collaboration between Sesame Workshop (the nonprofit educational organization behind Sesame Street), the Beijing Planetarium, the Adler Planetarium in Chicago and the Liberty Science Center in Jersey City, N.J. Outdoor Exploratorium San Francisco's Exploratorium is taking its mission outside its walls and into the community. The "Outdoor Exploratorium" is a project that includes a collection of interactive exhibits that encourage users to notice and experiment with outdoor phenomena. Peep and the Big Wide World An animated series that gives wings to the innovative idea of teaching science to preschoolers is the newest addition to TLC's and Discovery Kids' commercial-free and sponsor-free programming block, "Ready Set Learn!" Pulse of the Planet This website links visitors to radio broadcasts, illustrated features, science diaries, and more. Provides daily two-minute sound portraits of planet earth, tracking the rhythms of nature, culture and science worldwide, and blending interviews and extraordinary natural sound. RACE--Are We So Different? RACE--Are We So Different? is a traveling exhibition that explores the science, history and lived experience of race and racism in the United States. Radiolab live "Apocalyptical" Radiolab recently completed a 21 city tour with the science-filled live stage show "Apocalyptical." Over 50,000 people saw the show live in theaters and now it's been made available as a free online video. Return to Penguin City Travel to Antarctica where you will catch a glimpse inside a "penguin city" where millions of penguins converge annually. Discover how giant icebergs, disappearing sea ice and shifting weather patterns are affecting penguins, changing Antarctica and forecasting trouble for our planet. SciGirls As the only PBS series built on best practices for engaging girls 9-13 in science, technology, engineering and math, SciGirls understands how today's "digital native" kids largely learn, communicate and connect online. Sea Change: How High Will the Sea Rise For people living on coastlines around the world, rising sea levels due to climate change is a great concern. A team of researchers seeks to improve predictions of sea-level rise in the future by learning how high the sea has risen in the past. Sea Monsters: A Prehistoric Adventure "Sea Monsters: A Prehistoric Adventure" is a giant-screen film that brings dinosaurs of the late Cretaceous period to life. Secrets Beneath the Ice In "Secrets Beneath the Ice," join NOVA on a state-of-the-art expedition as researchers drill three-quarters of a mile into the Antarctic seafloor, recovering data that reveals the details of ancient Earth's climate and fauna. Secrets of Plant Genomes Revealed! Secrets of Plant Genomes: Revealed! takes viewers on a lively, upbeat journey that explores how plants got to be the way they are and investigates how we can make better use of them in the future. Skyline Exhibition at the Chicago Children's Museum How does one design a skyscraper? In the Chicago Children's Museum exhibition, "Skyline," learn to design your own skyscraper and learn about science, engineering, art and technology. "StarTalk" Radio Show Astrophysicist Neil deGrasse Tyson hosts "StarTalk," the first and only popular commercial call-in radio program devoted to all things space. "StarTalk" uses a unique combination of comedy and celebrity star power to pull the science out of the ordinary and pull the pop culture out of the scientific. Still Waiting: Life After Katrina This documentary tells the story of three women who anchor a family of 150 people displaced from St. Bernard Parish, La., after Hurricane Katrina, and the family's eventual return home—an event both hopeful and heartbreaking! Strange Matter This exhibit invites us to explore the fascinating world of stuff and uncover the surprising science behind the materials we use every day. Surviving: The Body of Evidence An interactive exhibition that explores the process of evolution and its profound impact on humans. Tales of the Maya Skies The world of the ancient Maya and their understanding of the universe through astronomy and mathematics is presented in this visually stunning, immersive full-dome show. Teen Café Scientifique Café Scientifique, a program for teens to gather, explore, discuss, and debate the latest ideas in science and technology, and converse with experts in the field. Includes follow-up events explore aspects of the Café topic in greater depth. The Coastal Observation and Seabird Survey Team (COASST) The Coastal Observation and Seabird Survey Team (COASST) is a citizen science project of over 700 community members who search their beach every month for what the tide brings in. The Elegant Universe A three-hour NOVA miniseries exploring one of the most ambitious and exciting theories ever proposed -- one that may be the long-sought "theory of everything," which eluded even Einstein. The Fabric of the Cosmos: A Four-part Series What is space? What is time? Is there more than one universe? "The Fabric of the Cosmos," a four-part NOVA series based on the book by renowned physicist and author Brian Greene, explores these questions and beyond. The Human Spark What is the nature of human uniqueness? Where and when did the human spark ignite, and why? In "The Human Spark," a three-part series to be broadcast on PBS, Alan Alda takes these questions personally, visiting with dozens of scientists on three continents and participating directly in many experiments. The Lost Ladybug Project The "Lost Ladybug Project" invites citizens to send photographs of ladybugs to help explain the decline of once common native ladybug species and document the spread of nonnative ladybug species across North America. The Molecularium Climb aboard the Molecularium for an animated, virtual tour of solids, liquids and gases—from the inside. The PBS NewsHour STEM Coverage The PBS NewsHour dedicates significant airtime and Web space to coverage of scientific research, technological developments and the environment. The NewsHour reports on topics ranging from space travel to butterfly migration to neuroscience to the engineering behind building a sewer system. The World Around Us Natural and earth sciences come to life in "The World Around Us," a new interactive, permanent exhibit at the Louisville Science Center. Time Team America "Time Team America's" prime-time public television series, interactive website and youth field schools provide stimulating opportunities for the public to learn about archaeology and explore some of the most important research taking place at sites around the U.S. Trail of Time The Trail of Time is a fully accessible, interpretive walking time-line trail that utilizes the unique vistas and rocks at the Grand Canyon to help the 5 million annual visitors ponder, explore and understand the magnitude of geologic time and the stories encoded in the rocks and landscapes. We Still Live Here--Âs Nutayuneân For over a century, the language of the Wampanoag tribes was not spoken. A crucial part of the tribes' culture was lost. The new documentary, We Still Live Here--Âs Nutayuneân, tells the story of how Jessie Little Doe Baird and members of the Wôpanâak Language Reclamation Project, bring this language back to life. Youth Radio At 19, Youth Radio's Joi Morgan makes it her business to know what's in, when it comes to the latest cosmetics. But only recently has she started to wonder about the contents of the products she puts on her face—lipstick in particular. She brings us this story. ZOOM The Emmy-Award winning television show "Zoom" lives on as a website, encouraging kids to engage in science and engineering activities. All images copyright their respective owners. RESEARCH AREAS FUNDING AWARDS DOCUMENT LIBRARY NEWS ABOUT NSF Website Policies Budget and Performance Inspector General Privacy FOIA No FEAR Act USA.gov Accessibility Plain Language Contact National Science Foundation, 2415 Eisenhower Avenue, Alexandria, Virginia 22314, USA Tel: (703) 292-5111, FIRS: (800) 877-8339 | TDD: (800) 281-8749 Text Only Version