Mythbusters' Adam Savage on Finding the Fun and the 'Danger' in Science

SCIENCE -- June 29, 2011 at 7:20 PM EDT

Mythbusters' Adam Savage on Finding the Fun and the 'Danger' in Science

On Wednesday's NewsHour, science correspondent Miles O'Brien looks at a growing effort to get kids more enthused about science, engineering and math. The movement has been dubbed "Make." The event: the Bay Area Maker Faire, where scientists, engineers and builders converge every year to celebrate building cool things, and a playful love of invention.

U.S. students have been lagging behind internationally, when it comes to science and math education. So far behind, it's been called a STEM crisis. (STEM is short for science, technology, engineering and math.)

While at the Maker Faire, Miles caught up with Adam Savage, co-host of "Mythbusters," whose work is as close to the "Make" ethos as you can get.

Miles talks to Savage about the importance of encouraging kids to get their hands dirty and embracing a little danger. Can this movement replace shop class, and play a role in the so-called STEM crisis, we ask him?

Find more coverage on our science page.

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