Remember Mr. Wizard? Don Herbert did science on T.V. from the 1950s ’til the 1990s. He really tried hard to popularize science and interest children. There were spin offs, books and chemistry sets and what not–so you could be Mr. Wizard at home–and some of these were pre-liability law, so you could actually DO things.
Plus ca change, plus la meme chose. Now, forensic science is big, thanks to, (or in spite of CSI) and now there is a Student Autopsy Kit. Using a fetal pig.
It makes sense, our common ancestor gives us the standard vertebrate body type, and pigs have traditionally stood in for human bodies in other situations, like the body farm. I’m just surprised that no one has thought to piggyback on the popular interest in forensic science before this. I’m also very surprised that no smart marketing type from the networks has thought to licence the CSI brand for education. That would be a very, very large cash cow.
William The Coroner's Forensic Files 
I have more memories of Julius Sumner Miller (says a lot I can recall his name after 30 years or so). Passion for your vocation makes for a very good teacher.
Still, I admire them both. Would that we had more teachers passionate about the sciences.
Comment by Glen — Thursday, 22, July, 2010 @ 12:53 |
It’d be a ‘cash sow’, surely?
Sorry, couldn’t resist.
Comment by Andrew — Thursday, 22, July, 2010 @ 22:10 |
Dang it, Andrew beat me to it 🙂 I remember blowing the window out of the garage with one of my ‘experiments’ back in the day… sigh… GOOD times 🙂
Comment by Old NFO — Saturday, 24, July, 2010 @ 08:23 |
I have fond memories of my first chemistry kit. It was a Christmas present. I think my mother would have preferred a different present as I managed to dissolve the varnish on the wooden floor in my bedroom during one of my “own experiments”–ah such fond memories.
Comment by Katie — Sunday, 25, July, 2010 @ 15:19 |