Planet SciCast

Planet SciCast was dreamt up by children's TV science producer Jonathan Sanderson, who worked on ITV's How 2 and The Big Bang. The site aims to make science engaging to young people, allowing users to submit their own films and enter competitions which challenge them to expound on matters scientific in a simple way while avoiding being boring and difficult. Best Overall Film wins the amusingly titled SciCast D'Or. Those wishing to submit something would be well advised to take a look at the Film School which provides helpful advice on how to put a video together.

In essence, Planet SciCast is Bill Bryson's A Short History of Nearly Everything broken up into two minute films and explained by people without beards. Fun is a very important part of the site's approach but this is a serious attempt to inspire young minds. Watching the enthusiasm with which people explain why the Millennium Bridge wobbled, we found ourselves thinking that Planet SciCast might just help to fill up all those empty places on university science courses we keep reading about.

The upbeat mood of the site, its attractive design and controlled silliness will all turn young people on to subjects so often stifled by dryness. Planet SciCast ranks as one of the most impressive educational resources we have seen on the net; its love for its subject should encourage potential Newtons everywhere.