GASP makes science fun–and gives nanotechnology
the boost it needs.
When asked by the Lemelson-MIT Survey to select the career field in which they are most interested, arts and medicine were teens' top choices (17 percent each). Teen girls were significantly more likely to be interested in medicine or health-care careers than teen boys (25 percent vs. 9 percent). Engineering was the third most-attractive career choice (14 percent of all respondents), but it was significantly more popular with teen boys than girls (24 percent vs. 4 percent). Only 9 percent of respondents chose science.
"The relative lack of interest in science and technology-oriented fields is alarming," Lemelson-MIT Program Director Merton Flemings has stated. "This year's Invention Index found that nearly half of teens view invention as a way to contribute to society and be creative. Yet we continue to fall short, particularly with respect to teenage girls, when it comes to presenting these fields as viable and attainable career options. We need to do more to make science and technology more attractive to today's youth."
Given that the federal government is predicting a $1 trillion revenue level for nanotechnologies by 2015, the need to spark interest among pre-teens and teens in nanoscience is crucial.
GASP was asked by Professor Vincent Crespi, the Associate Director of the Penn State Materials Research Science and Engineering Center (and one of the nation's top Nanotech luminaries) to address the problem. Professor Crespi had been tasked by the National Science Foundation (of which he holds the NSF CAREER award and two NSF NIRT awards), to consider this issue. Professor Crespi agreed to work in partnership with GASP to create the animated series Nanobot Play.
The GASP creative team responded to the challenge by developing an amazingly accessible storyline and cast of characters for Nanobot Play . Described as "Ferris Bueller meets Spongebob at the sub-atomic level," Nanobot Play follows the exploits of a squad of four nanobots who take time off from their hum-drum work day in the nanotubes to see what nanoscale mischief they can find. Through their mis-adventures, the pre-teen audience will begin to gain an understanding of the amazing potential of this world that lies before them. Nanobot Play will be launched for test audiences in July.
Sponsorship Opportunities
Nanobot Play presents the potential sponsor with an opportunity to "own" the high-interest, high-impact world of nanobiological technology. By name association with this easily accessible cast of sub-atomic characters, the potential sponsor can dominate share of mind along each step of this on-ramp to technology for those middle school and high school students (and their parents) who are most likely to be college-bound.
Accountability
The primary success metric associated with Nanobot Play is the growth of "perception of brand value among middle school to high school tweens and teens" market segment when compared to other programs deployed against this segment. This metric can be measured by:
a) the number of requests for promotional items at the point of purchase
b) Sponsored study materials downloads or redemption for product trial samples or coupons at NanobotPlay.com
c) unique visits to the sponsored Nanobot Play Grounds domain on SecondLife.com
Each of these analytic programs is designed to align their metrics with Sponsor Business Calenders and promotional timelines.
Current Status
Nanobot Play is being developed for production as an animated children's video and will be market-tested in libraries and online at Amazon.com , Borders.com and BarnesandNoble.com. |
