NASA I.S.I.S Program with MosDef & Astronaut Leland Melvin from OpenLineMedia on Vimeo.

The power of music to educate and inspire personified…

From the press release:

About I.S.I.S. Science and Culture Festival:

The world is rapidly becoming an environment where innovation is the primary engine for economic evolution. However, the American Public Education system is failing in its responsibility to equip our youth to continue to be leaders in innovation, particularly in the fields of math, science and technology. Scores from the 2006 Program for International Student Assessment showed that U.S. 15-year-olds trailed their peers from many industrialized countries. The average science score of U.S. students lagged behind those in 16 of 30 countries in the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, a Paris-based group that represents the world’s richest countries. The U.S. students were further behind in math, trailing counterparts in 23 countries.

The I.S.I.S. Science & Culture Festival is a half day of interactive programming and activities for students around the themes of science, space and technology.

MISSION STATEMENT: Utilizing new technology to create culturally competent science curricula for the next generation

INSPIRE: Students will begin the day with an immersive presentation co-written and produced by Ankh Marketing and Obscura Digital. Utilizing Obscura’s unique and unparalleled holographic technology we give the students a 20 minute introductory experience featuring a live performance by youth poets, followed by a holographic celebrity and astronaut Leland Melvin delivering a short, inspirational lesson about space and science which is developmentally appropriate for our solicited grade levels. This presentation will provide a wow factor that will immediate excite the students to hear and learn more about space, science, and technology.

ENGAGE: Following the holographic presentation the students will then participate in an interactive space/science fair. Using NASA’s in house resources and other activities provided by potential local partner organizations we will provide students with an immediate opportunity to engage in hands on dynamic learning experiences.

EDUCATE: Provide developmentally appropriate culturally competent curricula for teachers to bring back to their classroom and utilize as a follow-up to the interactive experience. The curricula will be available online and in software form for easy distribution.

New Music from Goapele and Mos Def

<a href="http://goapele.bandcamp.com/track/different-featuring-mos-def-unreleased">Different Featuring Mos Def (unreleased) by Goapele</a>