'The World of Viruses' project hopes to inform the public
Adam Ziegler
Issue date: 11/26/07 Section: News
- Page 1 of 1
A new grant from the National Center for Research Resources will help the University of Nebraska State Museum and Nebraska Center for Virology teach the public about viruses.
The five-year, $1.287 million grant will fund the World of Viruses, an informal education project that will bring scientists, radio producers and librarians together to create educational material about viruses.
The project was put together by Judy Diamond, the curator of informal science education at the University of Nebraska State Museum and Charles Wood, the director of the Nebraska Center for Virology. The project will be similar to other informal educational projects the museum has done about evolution and women in science.
"It builds upon previous grant-funded work," Diamond said.
Informal education is aimed at people who aren't in school said Diamond. Informal education allows information to reach a larger audience that is sometimes overlooked by formal education and provides more outlets for people to get information.
"When people learn in informal settings they can share their learning with friends and family and sometimes that makes it more meaningful and long-lasting," Diamond said.
The World of Viruses will create radio documentaries on various virology topics. When a radio station airs one of the documentaries, libraries in the area will be provided with additional virology materials such as books, posters and educational activities.
"This program will provide a broad set of resources that people can easily access to learn more about viruses and current virology research," Diamond said.
The documentaries will cover 15 topics, including viruses and bio-defense, emerging viral diseases and viruses in the environment. Wood said the project will try to cover a wide range of topics to give people as much information about viruses as possible.
"I think we cover a wide range of material from the most basic to the most contemporary," Wood said.
The World of Viruses will also try to fix some misconceptions about viruses, such as the idea that viruses are only bad. Wood said viruses are commonly used in genetic engineering and stem cell research to deliver genes.
"A lot of important things are associated with viruses," Wood said.
The content of the documentaries and where they will be broadcast is still being planned, but the project is scheduled to begin in the middle of next year.
Wood said he'll enjoy the notoriety the World of Viruses will give the Center for Virology's research, but the project's main goal is to educate people about viruses.
"As a virologist you like having your work known to people, but really the driving force is to get the information out to the public," Wood said.
adamziegler@dailynebraskan.com
The five-year, $1.287 million grant will fund the World of Viruses, an informal education project that will bring scientists, radio producers and librarians together to create educational material about viruses.
The project was put together by Judy Diamond, the curator of informal science education at the University of Nebraska State Museum and Charles Wood, the director of the Nebraska Center for Virology. The project will be similar to other informal educational projects the museum has done about evolution and women in science.
"It builds upon previous grant-funded work," Diamond said.
Informal education is aimed at people who aren't in school said Diamond. Informal education allows information to reach a larger audience that is sometimes overlooked by formal education and provides more outlets for people to get information.
"When people learn in informal settings they can share their learning with friends and family and sometimes that makes it more meaningful and long-lasting," Diamond said.
The World of Viruses will create radio documentaries on various virology topics. When a radio station airs one of the documentaries, libraries in the area will be provided with additional virology materials such as books, posters and educational activities.
"This program will provide a broad set of resources that people can easily access to learn more about viruses and current virology research," Diamond said.
The documentaries will cover 15 topics, including viruses and bio-defense, emerging viral diseases and viruses in the environment. Wood said the project will try to cover a wide range of topics to give people as much information about viruses as possible.
"I think we cover a wide range of material from the most basic to the most contemporary," Wood said.
The World of Viruses will also try to fix some misconceptions about viruses, such as the idea that viruses are only bad. Wood said viruses are commonly used in genetic engineering and stem cell research to deliver genes.
"A lot of important things are associated with viruses," Wood said.
The content of the documentaries and where they will be broadcast is still being planned, but the project is scheduled to begin in the middle of next year.
Wood said he'll enjoy the notoriety the World of Viruses will give the Center for Virology's research, but the project's main goal is to educate people about viruses.
"As a virologist you like having your work known to people, but really the driving force is to get the information out to the public," Wood said.
adamziegler@dailynebraskan.com
Viewing Comments 1 - 1 of 1
Terrence S. Kiolbassa
posted 11/26/07 @ 5:01 AM CST
"Viruses", airplanes, water, enegry and what ever.
Just do what has to be done. It is of Natioal Security importance that the daughters of legal Mexican immigrants be taught that there place is in American universities and colleges. (Continued…)
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