Stories by Joanne Manaster

Joanne Manaster is a university level cell and molecular biology lecturer with an insatiable passion for science outreach to all ages. Enjoy her quirky videos at www.joannelovesscience.com, on twitter @sciencegoddess and on her Facebook page at JoanneLovesScience Follow Joanne Manaster on Twitter @sciencegoddess

The Sciences

The Worlds of Viral Video

I had posted some time ago about one element often cropping up in viral videos: adorable animals, and in that case, sloths!Viral videos are a fascinating phenomenon, as is the general pace of delivery within videos found on youtube, and the appeal of this "organic" medium to viewers where there are no "gatekeepers" so to speak, where anyone can make a video about anything and share it with the world.My interest in the fast-paced world of internet video is one reason I write for this particular blog...

July 27, 2012 — Joanne Manaster

Tech

Inspirational "Science in Action" Video

Last night, the Google Science Fair winners were announced. I won't recap all the details, as you can read about it at the link, but suffice it to say, having three teenagers of my own (and a 21 year old) and with my extensive background in STEM outreach to young and old, I relate so well to these young people and am so proud of the winners.As I watched the live stream of the event, I fell in love with the video that Scientific American's Editor in Chief, Marietta DiChristina announced to showcase Scientific American's "Science in Action" winners from Swaziland...

July 24, 2012 — Joanne Manaster

Evolution

Freaks and Creeps-A TV Producer's Love of Evolution Inspires Search for "Ugly" Animals

Writer, producer, and television host Lucy Cooke has made television programs for NatGeo, Discovery (and affiliated Animal Planet), BBC, and more, on the topics of history, architechture and nature...

July 16, 2012 — Joanne Manaster

Sustainability

Green Screen Climate Fix Flicks and the Green Ninja

I seem to be surrounded by green lately (check my website for more about my Girls camp on Environmental Engineering and the great new MOOC (Massively Open Online Course) on Sustainability at UIUC to be offered beginning in August)...

July 11, 2012 — Joanne Manaster

The Sciences

Who Are Your Favorite Science, Technology, Engineering and Math Youtubers?

This is a follow up to my last post about Science Video Brainstorming. Thank you everyone who has kindly donated toward my trip to VidCon 2012! I have enough for a plane ticket!

June 19, 2012 — Joanne Manaster

The Sciences

Science Video Brainstorming, and Some YouTube Science

Looks like I'm in for a great summer full of science video goodness!At the end of June, both Carin and I will be heading to an unconference (taking a clue from Bora from Science Online) called BrainSTEM at the Perimeter Institute for Theoretical Physics in Canada (maybe I'll get to wave at Stephen Hawking!) We will be discussing many issues related to creating new media with science themes, both as education and entertainment...

June 9, 2012 — Joanne Manaster

The Sciences

NatGeo is casting for their show Brain Games!

National Geographic is looking for contestants from the NYC area to appear on their show Brain Games.Brain Games is a science/game/puzzle show!

June 5, 2012 — Joanne Manaster

The Sciences

Monkeys! Synthesizers! Nature and Tech Together!

If you gave an infinite number of (or six) monkeys (and related, which I think means mammals) an infinite (also six) number of synthesizers, will they eventually produce Gershwin's Rhapsody in Blue, or ACDC's Back in Black or, well, anything?Someone thought they'd give it a go as an advertisement for Voltfestivalen -- The place to go to experience the best new electronic music and art.Filmed at Skansenakvariet -- The place to go to experience unique wildlife in Stockholm.I was just tickled at this video...

May 27, 2012 — Joanne Manaster

The Sciences

Male anthropologist, paleontologist, or anthropologist needed to co-host TV show!

Before everyone gets their feathers ruffled that this casting call is looking for a male, just know he is to be a co-host to a female.Now that that is clear.....SEEKING CO-HOST FOR MAJOR CABLE NETWORK Major Cable Network dedicated to Nature, Science and Exploration, is currently casting a Co-Host for new project examining the different rituals surrounding death from culture to culture.Seeking a male between the ages of 25-35, preferably with a background in Archeology, Paleontology or Anthropology...

May 25, 2012 — Joanne Manaster

The Sciences

"King of the Nerds" TV Game Show Casting-Urgent

Here is a very fun opportunity for passionate, outgoing, dynamic geeks who want to compete on a game show on TBS! The catch? You must be between 18-30 years old and be available PRONTO!

May 14, 2012 — Joanne Manaster

The Sciences

A Biologist's Mother's Day Song

Happy Mother's Day!A molecular biology ditty for mom by Adam Cole, who has a pretty fun science video channel. You know I love this one!"Slightly more than half of me is thanks to you!!...

May 13, 2012 — Joanne Manaster

The Sciences

"It's so FLUFFEEE!": Otter 501, A must-see movie!

This enthusiastic movie line, lifted from the kids film, "Despicable Me", about an evil villian whose heart is warmed by a trio of young girls who come into his life, is a very appropriate introduction to a movie that animal lovers simply must take time out to see ...

May 10, 2012 — Joanne Manaster

The Sciences

The City Dark

I was recently in Alaska as an invitee of GoPro cameras in support of a pretty cool science experiment by Project Aether. Briefly, I was there to assist as they launched weather balloons with GoPro cameras attached in order to collect intra-auroral images...

April 16, 2012 — Joanne Manaster

The Sciences

Scientific American Blogs Officially Pop Culture Icon!

Time travel is tricky business. Scientists seem to always be wringing their hands over the potential implications of time travel. That is, if you believe the movies, and The Onion News Network's analysis of Mitt Romney's scheme to eliminate any versions of himself that sound too liberal, preventing the conservative vote!SciAm Blogs makes our pop culture debut at about 1:57!
Romney To Travel Back In Time To Kill Liberal Versions Of HimselfIt's official, Scientific American Blogs are cool!(This is not the first time that The Onion has approached the subject of scifi travel...

April 4, 2012 — Joanne Manaster

The Sciences

Monday Music Video: "Ph.Diva and the Mystery Band - Animation of Life in the Biotech lab

What do you do when your lab results are perplexing and contradict or add a new element to a finding you thought you already had sewn up? Today's video shares (and maybe celebrates) that frustration of those who've experienced this!Perhaps you recall a very catchy tune and animated video about life in the lab I covered in the post Ph...

March 26, 2012 — Joanne Manaster

The Sciences

Non-Native Chicago Wildlife

Mid-February, I took a science-themed trip to Chicago. I absolutely had to visit the new orphaned baby otter adopted by the Shedd Aquarium. I also could not turn down a chance to offer a one year happy birthday greeting to the two toed sloth born at Lincoln Park Zoo last year around Valentine's Day.First, we will meet Cayucos, John G...

March 22, 2012 — Joanne Manaster

The Sciences

Casting Call for Host of "Mystery of Matter"

Are you a chemist or love chemistry? Are you as engaging on camera as Carl Sagan, Neil DeGrasse Tyson or Bill Nye? Do you appreciate the human side of science discovery?

March 2, 2012 — Joanne Manaster

The Sciences

Casting for "Top Engineer" Game Show and Host for "Shocking World"

Are you good at designing, building and engineering and want to be on a unique game show?Maybe you are brave, curious and engaging and would love to host a TV show sharing shocking elements of our world.Either way, TV might be calling you...

March 2, 2012 — Joanne Manaster

Tech

The Believers: A Cautionary Tale of Sharing Science Too Soon

Upon hearing the breaking news that the so-called "faster-than-light" neutrino finding was due to an error from a loose connection in wiring, it seemed appropriate to share about a film that captures the human side of one of the best known scientific flubs in recent history: that of cold fusion...

February 24, 2012 — Joanne Manaster

The Sciences

Science for Grown-ups in Chicago

I will be in Chicago this week attending science events aimed at grown-ups. If you don't know the city, check out this tilt-shift video. Incredible! What started as a trip to view the work-in-progress film about cold fusion called "The Believers" (see my post), has become a bit of an adventure.I will briefly fill you in on some of the science (and Valentine's Day) themed events, in case you are in town and want to attend or, at the very least, to have something to look forward to when I share more about them.Sunday night, Stephanie Levi (@scienceissexy on twitter) will be hosting her Night Lab: The Science of Love and Attraction at a Chicago bar with two guest speakers who promise to enlighten us on the science of human attraction...

February 10, 2012 — Joanne Manaster