If there’s one thing I’ve learned as an educator, it’s that you can only be a jerky foreman to your youth miners for so long before they fight back. But I’m getting ahead of myself in the story… Back in 2009, I was in one of the principal educators running “I Dig Zambia.” “I Dig Zambia” …
I'm proud to share the news that starting this summer, the California Academy of Sciences has begun the process of divesting from fossil fuel industries. Our executive director Jon Foley announced on August 21 his plan to ensure that our institution's investment portfolio does not include any companies that extract non-renewable fossil fuels from the …
A couple of weeks ago, we got the official word on the phasing out of the MacArthur Foundation's support for Digital Media and Learning. While this was not terribly surprising for those of us who have been in the field and paying attention, it still is a major shift in our community. Barry Joseph on …
I haven't been in a Gap store for years. But I have to say that I'm loving this new Gap Kids "ED" line, Ellen Degeneres' new clothing line that celebrates girls doing lots of "non-girly" things. I love that this has actual kids who play drums, start businesses, dance, skate and make. For example, here's …
The Techteens are a team of young people at the California Academy of Sciences who get to explore different science topics, create cool digital media, and educate the public about science and sustainability. We just opened up the application for our 2015-2016 co-hort of Techteens. We have a very narrow window to apply — we …
During the weekend of October 2-4, sites around the country are going to take part in the first nation-wide Climate Game Jam, an effort to get lots of people designing games that communicate climate science and spur the players to fight climate change. A partnership of NOAA, the White Office of Science and Technology Policy, …
Last Friday, some folks from the education and visualization sections of the California Academy of Sciences got to play with some neat virtual reality prototypes at the offices of Swissnex San Francisco. Entitled "Real Virtuality," this interactive exhibit focused on three VR simulations created by the Geneva-based foundation Artanim. As someone who has been following …
The California Academy of Sciences has a new Tumblr "Hey Academy" focused on "science at its most beautiful." There are already three stunning photos there! Check it out at http://heycalacademy.tumblr.com/ .
As the culmination of a partnership with Khan Academy, internet provider Comcast is offering free broadband internet access for six months for qualifying households in Oakland, California. In addition, those that successfully apply by September 2 will receive a free laptop. This was the result of the participation of 73,000 of Bay Area youth from …
Spreading the word about this cool television and online event happening on Monday August 31: Big Blue Live. Focused on celebrating local marine biodiversity on the California coast, viewers will learn about the birds, whales, sharks, sea lions and more animals that make their home in the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary. PBS is hosting …