Thinking and curiosity are two things that fascinate me. So, I decided to look at two platforms that aim to foster ideas and encourage people to explore.
The first platform I looked at is that of SciShow. I have been a viewer of SciShow on and off for quite sometime. When you go to the show’s YouTube page the first video you see is titled, “SciShow: You Make Curiosity Contagious.” This is one of the things that is great about SciShow. The program is aimed for everyday people who are curious about the world around them. They have playlists of videos that range from answering the most commonly asked questions on Google to looking at the most interesting science stories of the week to videos that last between 7-10 minutes that are trying to go a bit more in depth on certain topics. The topics of their videos also range from a variety of topics that include the reasons for poop being green to the reason the dinosaurs are extent. The purpose of SciShow is to both entertain and inform people. Hank Green who is the primary host of the channel does have his Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in science fields, but the videos aren’t complicated vocabulary wise and can often involve humor. At the same time, the videos are looking to answer basic questions that people might have and to clear up misconceptions. SciShow works as a springboard because it gives people the basic information on a subject. This information could then peak a person’s curiosity and lead them to search the topic further. With more than 2 million subscribers, I think this show is definitely successful in what it does. It helps that the videos don’t alienate or make the audience feel dumb for not knowing why something is. The theme of the show is to create curiosity in individuals that leads them to be better informed. Here is the link to the channel if anyone feels so inclined to check it out. https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCZYTClx2T1of7BRZ86-8fow
The other platform that I looked at was the TED Talks website. I am an avid TED Talk watcher and I love them a good amount. TED Talks aim to inform more than they aim to entertain. Their website even states that “We believe passionately in the power of ideas to change attitudes, lives and, ultimately, the world.” The people of TED truly regard ideas as powerful, so it makes sense that they would be looking to spread these ideas to the people that watch their videos. Obviously, TED Talks are more professional than SciShow and they are given by individuals who are experts in their fields. They also are aimed to a more diplomatic audience, but I also think that people who are interested in the subjects of certain TED Talks will understand what the talks are about. TED Talks are also very accesible because they are free and available world wide. They also allow individuals to think about how certain aspects of science or business or education can be applicable to real life situations. A talk that stuck in my mind was about the psychological effects of believing one was ugly. The talk was given by Meaghan Ramsey and discussed how young girls are looking to be validated in today’s society and that sometimes not thinking they are good enough holds them back from showing up to job interviews or doing well in school. That will stick with me for a while. I will insert the link to that talk here as well. https://www.ted.com/talks/meaghan_ramsey_why_thinking_you_re_ugly_is_bad_for_you#t-564195
SciShow and Ted Talks are both successful in what they do and I will be visiting them again soon.
