NBC Learn and National Science Foundation Launch "Chemistry Now"

Part of a yearlong celebration of chemistry, NBC Learn and National Science Foundation launch the “Chemistry Now” series.

 Available cost-free to students, teachers and chemistry fans of all ages on NBCLearn.com

New York, NY—January 24, 2011— In celebration of the International Year of Chemistry, NBC Learn has teamed up with the National Science Foundation (NSF) to launch “Chemistry Now,” a weekly online video series that uncovers and explains the science of common physical objects in our world and the changes they undergo every day. The series also looks at the lives and work of scientists on the frontiers of 21st century chemistry. “Chemistry Now” consists of 32 learning packages that aim to break down the chemistry behind things such as cheeseburgers and chocolate or soap and plastics. A new topic will be explored each week starting in January and running through May. The series will then resume in the fall of 2011 to keep pace with the academic school year.Made especially for students and teachers to explore chemistry in and beyond the classroom, the online videos are matched with lesson plans from the National Science Teachers Association (NSTA) and are available cost-free on  www.NBCLearn.com, www.NSF.gov and http://nstacommunities.org/blog/.

Weekly content includes original video stories that illustrate real-world applications of chemistry; current events and archival news stories related to chemistry; original source documents and images from the Chemical Heritage Foundation; articles from the archives and current publications of Scientific American; and content-coordinated lesson plans for middle and high school students, produced by national curriculum specialists at NSTA. In addition, the “Chemistry Now” series will profile NSF-sponsored scientists who are hard at work on the next generation of chemistry breakthroughs.“The International Year of Chemistry is an excellent opportunity to reach out to the public and convey to them the ways in which chemistry is involved in their lives each and every day,” said Matthew Platz, director of NSF’s Division of Chemistry. “We are especially excited about the opportunity that this collaboration gives us to reach out to large numbers of intelligent, energetic young people who might not have imagined that they could be contributing members of this thrilling, dynamic field.”“Chemistry Now” builds on a number of other collaborations between NBC Learn and NSF, in their partnership to advance the understanding of and interest in science, technology, engineering and math. As part of the partnership, NBC Learn—the educational arm of NBC News— oversees all production of the learning packages and contributes original video, as well as historic news coverage, documentary materials and current news broadcasts from NBC News. “Today’s students thrive on the opportunity to learn from real life examples of what they are studying in school,” said Soraya Gage, executive producer of NBC Learn. “Using unique and engaging storytelling, NBC News can help break down barriers to understanding complicated scientific concepts.” ‘“‘Chemistry Now’ provides a fantastic opportunity for teachers to supplement classroom learning by using video and lesson plans that are supported with rich, accessible pedagogy,“ said Francis Eberle, executive director of NSTA. “We are delighted to contribute to the project, and we know chemistry educators will find the packages useful.”Previous NSF/NBC Learn partner projects include: “The Science of the Winter Olympics” and “The Science of NFL Football.”****About NBC LearnNBC Learn is the educational arm of NBC News dedicated to providing resources for students, teachers, and lifelong learners. The online resources NBC Learn has created for the education community leverages nearly 80 years of historic news coverage, documentary materials, and current news broadcasts. The NBC News Archives on Demand feature gives students and teachers access to thousands of video clips from the NBC News archives, including great historic moments--from the Great Depression to the Space Race to the latest political coverage. NBC Learn also offers primary source materials, lesson plans and classroom planning resources, and additional text and image resources from our content partners.

About the National Science Foundation

The National Science Foundation (NSF) is an independent federal agency that supports fundamental research and education across all fields of science and engineering. In fiscal year (FY) 2010, its budget is about $6.9 billion. NSF funds reach all 50 states through grants to nearly 2,000 universities and institutions. Each year, NSF receives over 45,000 competitive requests for funding, and makes over 11,500 new funding awards. NSF also awards over $400 million in professional and service contracts yearly. About NSTAThe Arlington, VA-based National Science Teachers Association (NSTA), www.nsta.org, is the largest professional organization in the world promoting excellence and innovation in science teaching and learning for all. NSTA’s current membership includes more than 58,000 science teachers, science supervisors, administrators, scientists, business and industry representatives, and others involved in science education.

FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT: 

Meghan Pianta

NBC News

t:212-664-2364

e:meghan.pianta@nbcuni.com

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