Children’s Science Television: Then and Now

Date/Time
Date(s) - 07/11/2014
4:00 pm - 6:30 pm

Location
V&A Museum of Childhood

Category(ies)

• Free Event

Register for your ticket through Eventbrite.

This panel and demo session will ask:

• How has children’s science television has changed?
• What’s better and what’s worse?
• Are we missing something that we had in the past and what can we look forward to in the future?
• Have perceptions of scientists and science changed over the years?
• Does children’s media have a responsibility in informal science learning and promoting attainable science role models?

Presenters include:

• Jonathan Sanderson, Producer of How2, Director of StoryCog
• Violet Berlin, Bad Influence, The Big Bang, WhizzBangTV
• Richard Holliman, Open University
• Fran Scott, Absolute Genius with Dick and Dom
• Gareth Jones (moderator) former How2 presenter.

Finally, the audience will be invited to tell us what they think.

The ‘older’ audience can reminisce about children’s science television from the past and think about whether these shows had an impact on their lives, either as scientists or non-scientists. What do they think of current science shows? The ‘younger’ audience can voice their views on what science television they like and what they think of science role models today. They will hear about the research and work that goes on behind children’s science media. The audience can air their views freely, and thanks to the presence of the Children’s Media Foundation too, these will be fed back to programme developers.

This event is unique as it draws upon the expertise of those who have worked in children’s science media then and now, as well as researchers involved in the (In)Visible Witnesses and ASPIRES projects, and producers. All genuinely wish to informally educate and inspire young people with science but also wish to debate whether television is still the right medium to do this today.

This is an ESRC event in association with The Children’s Media Foundation.