Since 2011, the California Academy of Sciences has been pioneering innovative youth programs that combine science exploration, digital media creation, and youth voice. TechTeens leverages the power of technology to inspire youth to be science communicators and civically engaged leaders.
Our program provides youth with important 21st century skills such as leadership, collaboration, and design-thinking—all necessary in developing future leaders. While learning valuable workplace skills from the Academy professionals and beyond, youth are provided with numerous opportunities to share their digital science stories with the public on the museum floor and on various digital platforms.
Youth Engagement
- Pearson Young Scientists
- The Problem with Plastics (2012-2013)
This fall, the California Academy of Sciences will launch the “Problem with Plastics” Pearson Young Scientists program in partnership with The Pearson Foundation’s New Learning Institute. This eight-month, twice a week program (runs Sep 24, 2012 to April 20, 2013) will provide a group of high school youth the opportunity to learn about plastic use and sustainability issues in their communities and worldwide, and use digital technology to come up with their own creative solutions. Youth will conduct surveys and interview local business owners, residents, environmental activists and others in the area to explore the issues of plastic use, inefficient recycling options, and resulting environmental degradation. As a culmination of their learning, youth will use several digital tools to create a compelling story about issues with plastic use, and use these tools to express a call to action for their community to work towards solving the “problem with plastics”.
- Summer in Action
- Build for Speed (Summer 2013)
This two week intensive summer institute for highschoolers engages young people in researching stories related to the Academy of Sciences “Built for Speed” exhibit that appeal to them and their peers. They will create media content for the web and museum floor to tell those stories. Youth will be involved in everything from topic research to storyboarding to filming and producing the stories. They will be assisted by experts from the Academy’s Visualization Studio. Youth will learn skills from Academy professionals and follow Academy protocol to propose, create, and edit content.
- Astronomy (2012-2013)
EXPLORE the universe using current research, real live scientists, and the technology tools we provide for you. INVESTIGATE space phenomena and topics that you choose. CREATE digital space tours to show at the Academy. PRESENT your own planetarium shows to your parents, peers and the public.
- Fastest Fish Spring Break Intensive (2013)
Take on the role of marine biologists “discovering” a new species of marine life that is remarkably adapted to its environment, combining different characteristics of real life marine animals and new adaptations. Create their own marine animals using sketchpads, physical modeling materials, 3D printed parts and their own custom printed 3d body parts.
- TechTeens
- Science News Team
TechTeens in the Science News Team research and write online articles on different critical science topics that they choose, and then facilitate and track online discussions about those topics. Our media partner KQED disseminates the articles by the youth on the web, via Twitter, and directly to classrooms around the country. Past topics chosen by the youth include e-cigarettes, ivory poaching, and sexism in the science community.
- Science Viz Team
TechTeens in the Science Viz Team created different digital media to educate the public about cool, cutting-edge science. These teens produced short science videos, infographics, animations and other media that inform the public about the scientific research and collections that reside at the Academy. These videos have been put on display on the museum floor and on the Academy's YouTube page.
Watch the videos
- Science Game Team
TechTeens in the Science Game Team develop and prototype science games to educate the public about the research done by Academy scientists. Youth will work together to develop artwork, audio assets, and game design that will turn into a working, playable game.
- Environmental Computing
Made environemtnal devices
- Visualization Studio Internship
In collaboration with the Academy’s Visualization Studio, we support internships for youth to work alongside the Viz Studio staff on a variety of video production tasks and responsibilities. Interns gain valuable workplace and technological skills. Interns are recruited from within the Academy youth community.
- Playshops
Our Digital Learning program collaborates with local organizations to host a monthly series of youth science and technology “playshops” at the Academy. Each playshop focuses on a different science / technology experience—such as 3D sustainable design, aquatic robotics, and science game design—facilitated by adult or youth experts. Playshops emphasize playful tech exploration, science learning, and youth creativity and voice.
Events
- Climate Game Jam
The Climate Game Jam is a nationwide, multi-site event organized by a partnership of NOAA, White House Office of Science and Technology Policy, the Smithsonian Institute, the California Academy of Sciences and several other institutions, taking place the weekend of October 2-4, 2015. The game jam at the Academy is open to teams of local game developers, who will work alongside Academy scientists, with input from Academy teen volunteers and visitors to the Academy.
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- Science Game Jam
Race against the clock to create games about science! Youth worked in teams with Academy scientists and Bay Area game developers to explore science and game design.
2015 Results
2016 Results
