As information technology grows and develops the list of ways we can communicate with each other grows at a rapid rate. We suddenly have ways of reaching others we could never have imagined and the implications are innumerable. Today I took a look at one form of communication, YouTube videos, and specifically how the platform is being used to reach and educate the scientific community. I reviewed two channels, MinutePhysics and Periodic Videos, focusing on the ways in which each channel conveyed their information and the purpose for each channel as a whole.
To begin we will point our attention to MinutePhysics, (http://bit.ly/LxHWtS) a YouTube channel created in 2011, run by Henry Reich a current resident at the Perimeter Institute for Theoretical Physics. The first thing you notice when watching any of MinutePhysics’ videos is the presentation, short videos with a whiteboard and marker art style. Each of MinutePhysics’ videos is done in about three minutes time and not in live action, but with drawings that are paired with a voiceover explaining the science in each video. This channel clearly has a very general audience as it tries to make its videos short and sweet while keeping the viewer entertained with the drawings. In addition to this, each video attempts to shy away from the complicated vocabulary of the science world and convey many different science phenomena in ways we can understand. Every once in a while the channel does videos relating science to pop culture, such as the “How Far Can Legolas See?” video (http://bit.ly/1w5zmCM) which again re-enforces the idea that these videos are made for everyone. Since there is obviously so much effort put into making the videos appeal to a wide audience the purpose of the channel is clear, to get the general public interested in science and show that science can be interesting. In the end the channel accomplishes its purpose. The wide range of topics covered along with the presentation of each video allows the viewer to be thoroughly engaged while they actually learn something. If I held any qualms about the videos it would be that he tends to speak very fast while presenting. To improve I would only slow down the presentation speed a small amount so that you don’t miss a thing. I would absolutely watch more videos from this channel, as I was entertained to the fullest extent of the word.
The second channel I analyzed was Periodic Videos, (http://bit.ly/1qybB4z) a channel started in 2008 and run by Professor Martyn Poliakoff of Nottingham University, a professor in chemistry. Instantly you can see the videos from this channel are immensely different than those of MinutePhysics. The presentation for this channel is live action. Instead of the drawings of Minute Physics, Periodic Videos has Professor Poliakoff talking to you directly on camera, sometimes having his colleagues join him for certain topics. The videos on this channel tend to be longer than those MinutePhysics with average video length being about 6-7 minutes. The longer length of Periodic Videos’ videos allows for a bit more in depth discussion about different topics. The length of these videos also allows for live demonstration of the different scientific phenomena discussed. Since the presenter is a current chemistry professor at a distinguished university, the videos tend to be more complex in terms of the science explained. Because of the added complexity the intended audience is more narrow than that of MinutePhysics, where you may be able to watch most if not all of MinutePhysics’ videos with no scientific background at all, it helps to know a small amount of chemistry going into each of Periodic Videos’ submissions so that you can take more from each video. The slight issue I hold is that the videos of this channel are not as easily accessible, that being said, if you do have some knowledge of very basic chemistry the videos on the Periodic Videos channel are very successful in teaching you about the topic discussed. As a person with some knowledge of basic chemistry I was intrigued and would surely watch more of the videos.
In the end, both channels succeed in their respective purposes. MinutePhysics does a great job in explaining science to a wide audience and Periodic Videos does its part in teaching chemistry with the added benefit of some cool live demonstrations. Both channels succeed in bringing science to the world, and show how important communication is when it comes to the scientific community.
