WHYY Summer Journalists Program Features Science History Institute

Student news report takes an in-depth look at how we tell the stories behind the science that shapes our everyday lives.

August 15, 2022

The Science History Institute was recently featured on WHYY as part of the public media outlet’s Summer Journalists program, an immersive journalism class for high school and middle school students in the Delaware Valley. The news story focuses on our free museum, offering viewers an in-depth look at our permanent displays, award-winning Downstream exhibition, and Object Explorer touch table.

“I really love the table there,” says one museum visitor interviewed by student reporter Pauli Voelkel (pictured above). “It’s really interesting the way it’s set up and how you can learn about the elements in a really easy and fun way.”

Also interviewed are gallery manager Vaughn Tempesta, curatorial affairs director Jesse Smith, and museum curator Roger Turner, who each emphasize the numerous ways we tell the compelling stories of innovators and scientific discoveries that shape our everyday lives.

Smith asks, “What are the instruments, what are the devices by which we know the world? How do they help us generate knowledge about our environment, about the human body?”

“From the clothes we wear, to the medicines we take, to the water we drink, science is essential and central to all of that,” adds Turner.

About WHYY Summer Journalists

The WHYY Summer Journalists program is for aspiring news reporters and offers intensive multi-week experiences for teens finishing grades 9–12 and a spring break program for middle school students. The project-based programs provide immersive media-production experiences in which the participants work in teams to create original news or film productions in news.

More News

Othmer Gold Medal and Bolte Award
news

Science History Institute Announces 2026 Othmer Gold Medal, Bolte Award Winners

UConn professor Sir Cato Laurencin and Alexandria Real Estate founder Joel Marcus will be honored this May in Old City Philadelphia.

colorized printed plate of a fireworks display from the 1922 book Pyrotechnics: The History and Art of Firework Making
news

Explore the Explosive History of Fireworks with Institute’s New ‘Flash! Bang! Boom!’ Exhibition Opening April 10

Part of America’s 250th celebrations, visitors will discover the origins of and science behind these universally loved pyrotechnics.

Illustration of a burning match from Real Fairy Folks book
news

Science History Institute Joins Philadelphia’s 52 Weeks of Firsts Celebration Honoring America’s 250th Birthday

The March 21 event features the Philly-born invention of the first paper match folder.

    Republish

    Copy the above HTML to republish this content. We have formatted the material to follow our guidelines, which include our credit requirements. Please review our full list of guidelines for more information. By republishing this content, you agree to our republication requirements.