Science of Imagineering to Debut on DVD

(c) Disney

(December 17, 2008) Imagine making math and science fun for middle-school students. That�s the goal of a new educational DVD series produced by Walt Disney Imagineering and Disney Educational Productions. Called �The Science of Imagineering,� the series features Imagineers introducing basic scientific principles as they apply to theme park attractions in a fun and relevant format.

At Walt Disney World Resort, for example, production crews recently filmed Imagineers Joe Rohde and program host Asa Kalama at Disney�s Animal Kingdom who explained the design process involved in creating Expedition Everest. During the episode, they talked about the way Imagineers take ideas from concept to completion.  

With Imagineers as their E-ticket instructors, plus a mix of edgy animation and kid-friendly demonstrations, even kids who are less scientifically inclined will enjoy learning about the gravity of the situation at The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror, how the centripetal force may be with them at Mission: SPACE, or why science really matters at Catastrophe Canyon.

"This has been such an amazing experience to present science in a relevant way that students can get more engaged and excited and at the same time they can see how much fun science really is," said Imagineer Asa Kalama, who hosts the DVD series.

Imagineer Rohde was one of the guest presenters who talked about the design process. �It�s great to be able to inspire children with how cool science can be,� he said. �Once students understand that no matter how impressive the whole end result is, it�s made up of understandable steps, then they can really be inspired to try it themselves.�  

The DVD content meets national curriculum standards for middle school science teachers and will be available this spring.

-- Posted December 29, 2008