Dr. Katie and one of her lab assistants in the studio

Science is Cool is a radio program that promotes scientific exploration for kids through experiments that can easily be performed at home while parents are available for discussion and assistance. It airs every other week on Montana Public Radio Station, KUFM, during the two-hour Children's Corner program. Producer and host Dr. Katie George, Assistant Research Professor of The University of Montana, (Dr. Katie to her radio audience) invites Saturday morning listeners to perform scientific experiments at home along with her “lab assistants” in the studios.

Dr. Katie has developed a very enthusiastic following and in response, a 4-Compact Disc set of the first 43 Science is Cool broadcasts has been created. The 4-CD set is being distributed to all of Montana's public libraries and elementary schools so that children and their families across the State of Montana can listen to Dr. Katie over and over again either at home or in the classroom. A second volume of CDs is planned for distribution Summer 2007.

UM’s EPSCoR program chose to fund Science is Cool as an outreach effort because the radio segment inspires young people to become excited about scientific discovery and possibly choose careers in science research.

Inside the CD jacket are details about each of the individual programs, separated into tracks, listing the materials needed for each experiment and the scientific concept that will be illustrated.

Be sure to tune in to KUFM around 8:30 on Saturday mornings during the two-hour Children's Corner program to hear the 15-minute call to gather materials for the experiment. Then follow along with Dr. Katie and have fun learning about air pressure, sound waves, static electricity, inertia, viscosity or other scientific concepts.