When your students ask the inevitable question, "When would I ever use this?" answer it with a micro-documentary from the largest STEM video library of its kind --- The Futures Channel.
Teachers tell us >> “I like to motivate the students to learn math by showing applications for math and science in real life, and your videos are a valuable resource. You do a great job. Thank you..” F.A. El Paso, Texas
Math, Science, Technology, Engineering - - On Location, On Video, On Demand.
Meet two landscape architects who tell the story of competing against top firms in the world to win the opportunity to design a one-of-a kind botanical garden for the city of Chicago: the Lurie Garden at Millennium Park. Running time 06:56 minutes
A set is a created place where the action of a film or TV show happens. Actors, animals and objects are placed on a set for filming. Creating a set where everything fits just right calls for an understanding of "area". Running time 02:37 minutes
Professional dancers, and the health professionals that keep them on their toes, use principles of geometry and engineering to achieve their goals. Find out how this art form is going high tech! Running time 01:59 minutes
There are few cities in the U.S. with the number of tall buildings that New York City has, and with a water system as old. For fire prevention, taller buildings are required to have two sources of water, and one of those is usually a tank on the roof. Running time 03:07 minutes
"Seeing your drawing come to life and become a real building is absolutely fantastic." When Penn Station needed a new front entrance, they called upon architect Frances Halsband, and she called upon her knowledge of geometry. Running time 03:05 minutes
Have you ever had students say to you, "I don’t need math, I’m going to be a musician!" Why not introduce them to world-renowned drummer Ndugu Chancler, who explains why math is essential to music? Running time 06:38 minutes
Whether he's making mouth-watering chocolate croissants or perfectly flaky apricot danishes, this baker has to make sure that he has just the right amount of each ingredient and that requires math. Running time 05:39 minutes
You buy a dozen roses - he buys 3 million! Plus 1,250 sunflowers, 4,000 irises, and 5,000 calla lilies. In fact, he buys more than 100 million flowers a year. Introduce your students to someone who works with really big numbers. Running time 05:03 minutes
"What? Growing bugs is a real job? And it requires math?!" Organic farmers depend on Jan Dietrick to supply them with good bugs that attack bad bugs. She depends on her knowledge of numbers to get the job done. Running time 01:17 minutes
Good farmland is in limited supply. Hydroponics is an additional way of meeting the needs of an expanding population. Show your students a hydroponic "lettuce factory" that produces over 50,000 heads of lettuce every week. Running time 02:25 minutes
There are over 2.1 million farms in the U.S., totaling over 900 million acres. And those millions of harvests producing food; they’re also producing data--a lot of data! That’s where statisticians like Sarah Hoffman and Jackie Brown of the USDA come in. Running time 05:00 minutes
Chris Araujo combines innovation with design to create backpacks for one of the largest outdoor apparel companies in the world. Whether he's measuring the straps for comfort or designing the shape of the front pouch, math is critical to good design. Running time 04:52 minutes
Rumor has it that if you lined Barbie Dolls up head to toe, they would circle the globe eight times. This movie takes students behind-the-scenes to meet a Barbie designer who uses everything from measurement to fractions to patterns to design new dolls. Running time 04:11 minutes
It can take years to plan and engineer these state-of-the-art wind farms. It’s a problem-solving process that draws on an understanding of algebra, geometry, kinetic energy, etc. to turn one of our most abundant resources into a viable business. Running time 06:32 minutes
Near the Gulf Coast of Texas extends a 44,000-acre refuge full of alligators, armadillos, coyotes, and lots and lots of birds. Show your students the science and math wildlife biologists use to maintain a safe haven for these animals. Running time 05:37 minutes
When it comes to designing robots for space, making sure that they can complete their missions is the name of the game for NASA’s robotics engineers. That requires math, especially probability. Running time 05:30 minutes
It's pretty common for skateboards to break. So Tim Piumarta makes skateboards that "last a ridiculously long time." He has to understand force and kinetic energy to measurement and algebra in order to make them extremely strong and long-lasting. Running time 05:57 minutes
Lighter. Stronger. Faster. That's the goal of Niko Henderson, an engineer for Easton Sports. He uses science, mathematics, engineering and innovative testing to help produce some of the fastest bikes on the road. Running time 04:46 minutes
Determining who is the best athlete on the field is hardly a matter of opinion. Sports reporters stay ahead of the competition by arriving early and keeping a close watch on statistics. Running time 02:14 minutes
From the cannon room to the bat-swinging robot to the bat handle-breaking machine, the engineers at Easton Sports are testing the latest sports equipment for durability, performance and handling. Running time 05:00 minutes
Sailing the ocean no longer requires triple-masted schooners-in fact you can do it on a vessel no larger than a surfboard. What's the secret to designing a windsail that can skim the surface of the sea at 20 miles an hour, yet respond instantly to a sail? Running time 01:41 minutes
Futures Channel subscribers have access to wide range of STEM oriented video programs. Here’s just a snapshot of what you can show your students Running time 5:27 minutes
When world renowned architect Rafael Vinoli proposed a radical design for the University of California, he set in motion a collaboration between architects and engineers who would use math, physics and innovation to build one of the most unique buildings. Running time 7:26 minutes
A marine biologist studies the jellyfish-like animals
living at 3,000 feet below the surface, where it is
cold, dark and quiet. Featured: George Matsumoto,
marine biologist, Monterey Bay Aquarium Research
Institute. Running time 3:19 minutes
With solar flares 200,000 miles across releasing the equivalent of all the energy ever produced on the Earth at one time, space weather forecasters will become an important feature on the future news. Featured: Joe Hirmann & Joann Joselyn. Running time 2:02 minutes
Building miniature replicas with a full-scale imagination, Greg Jein reproduces every detail of the Star Trek space vessels. Featured: Greg Jein, model maker. Running time 2:36 minutes
