Small wonder Benson, [Biology Alumna] is now the host and producer of Smithsonian Science How, a live, half-hour webcast aimed at introducing middle school students to the research and personalities of the Smithsonian’s National Museum of Natural History. And while Benson long believed that she would grow up to become a medical doctor or research scientist, she says, “I always thought I’d be contributing to science in a meaningful way, and now I get to help kids understand and appreciate the natural world.”
Benson’s preparation for each episode—which dovetails with national science standards and includes a comprehensive array of teaching resources—is extensive. First, she and a fellow content developer meet with the featured scientist, teasing out his or her most exciting research and discoveries. Then she reads up on the given topic, whether it’s bird extinctions, early human diets, or deep reef biodiversity, paying particular attention to the expert’s published books and peer-reviewed papers. Finally, she helps to pen the script, which includes poll questions for the fledgling scientists watching from the comfort of their classrooms. A sample question from the season three premiere: What major event happened on Earth 200 million years ago? A) Massive flooding, B) Huge volcanic eruptions, C) Asteroid hit, D) Dramatic climate change.–COS News Article by Jason Kornwitz
Biology