Make:

... I think we're going to be okay. Brennon Williams (whose work we've blogged about before) is a teen who's passionate about science. Really passionate. He's published a print science zine, runs several science-related blogs, and sends email to all of his science and tech heroes (who he calls his "pop stars"). Some of them write back.

In the above video, he addresses an assembly at his school, on the subject of "From Passion to Action." He talks about his great love of science and where it's taken him, and he tells the other kids to research whatever they're passionate about and to share their findings with others, to not be afraid to reach out to their experts, their "pop stars" (whomever they may be), to make their work/findings free and readily available*, and to just go for it -- don't worry about knowing everything or being perfect, learn from your failures. Did I mention this speaker, this accomplished amateur scientist, with a science magazine, blogs, and pretty decent public speaking chops is 14 years old!? As I said, If Brennon Williams is our future, I think we're going to be okay.

Here's Part II of his presentation, if you're interested.

*This young man is already smart enough to understand Tim O'Reilly's notion that "obscurity is a far greater threat to authors and creative artists than piracy."

BW Science Labs

More:
Night sky in a shoe box