It’s been a long week. What better way for the science geek to unwind and get ready for the weekend than to zone out watching some really cool science animations. There’s nothing wrong with a little scientific eye candy, especially if you have been squinting into a microscope or streaking Petri dishes all day.
Visualizations enhance written or verbal explanations of complex scientific concepts. Therefore, you could stay that watching endless hours of science video is sort of like learning.
If you search a website like YouTube.com you will find 1,000s of science animations, and there are many more on other websites. Frankly many of them are poorly done. So I set out to find five really amazing animations from the world of bioscience. (Sorry physical scientists, I promise to remember you for next time!)
I established specific criteria for selecting these five videos.
First, the video had to be visually stunning. I am somewhat spoiled by the fact that I work side-by-side with an animator during my “real” job. He pretty much works exclusively in 3D animation. I won’t say that 2D animation cannot be effective. We have used it and it can enhance a point your are trying to explain. But 3D just makes your eyes pop. It’san art form. Even if you are just trying to learn about photosynthesis for a botany exam, an animation on the subject should be visually and aesthetically pleasing.
Second, the films had to tell a complete story. By story, I don’t mean, “Once upon a time.” What I mean is that each one had to have some sort of visual payoff. This makes them worth watching. I emphasize this concept in the video production course I teach during winter intersession at Johns Hopkins University. There's no use wasting your time making a video if you don't have a story to tell and if you don't have something visually intriguing to tell your story with.
Third, the videos had to be less than five minutes long. Any longer than that and my interest wanes. Life is too short.
Fourth, the visuals had to be accompanied by excellent music and appropriate sound effects. The soundtrack must complement and enhance the video in some way. If there's narration, it must be engagingly written and spoken by someone with a pleasant voice. A top pick science video should not sound like a school science film from when your dad was a kid.
That’s it. Enjoy the show. Please share great science videos that you find by sending me the link via Twitter: @Mary_Spiro.
And I saved the best one for last...
To see some of the work created by the students and staff of the Johns Hopkins INBT Animation Studios.
Tomorrow many Americans will prepare and indulge in the annual Thanksgiving feast of turkey, gravy, stuffing and all the trimmings. Eating turkey, it …
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Five amazing bioscience animations that will make your eyes pop
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