WOW Media Coverage

Wonders of Our World has recently been in the news. Many Columbus area newspapers and news stations have been interested in the W.O.W. program and have shared their excitement with readers, listeners and viewers. Below are links to the articles and/or descriptions of the broadcasts.

Young Students Wowed By Science - see the article

The Wonders of Our World (WOW) science education program based in Columbus, Ohio, is one effort to address this problem [of elementary science education]. Created and directed by Ohio State University (OSU) analytical chemistry professor Susan V. Olesik, WOW supplements existing science programs in elementary schools by providing training workshops for teachers on how to conduct hands-on experiments in the physical and biological sciences. The program then provides scientist volunteers to assist the teachers in carrying out the experiments with their students.

Pro Excellentia - see the article

Mary Kay Binder, of the Martha Holden Jennings Foundation, visited a WOW school on November 4, 2004. After observing WOW teachers and volunteers in action with the students, she composed this article for the Martha Holden Jennings Foundation publication Pro Excellentia

NBC 4 Columbus News

On Friday October 29, 2004 Ben Gelber of the NBC 4 Warn Storm Team visited kindergarten and third grade classrooms at Medary Elementary. WOW Volunteers were there helping teachers facilitate experiments about Scientific Method and Measurement. Footage from the visit aired in a news clip on the October 31 and November 1, 2004 newscasts.

The Columbus Dispatch - see the article

Ruth E. Sternberg, the Columbus Dispatch Schools Reporter, wrote the February 25, 2002 article.

The Lantern - see the article

An article, written by Anthony Dill, was published on April 11, 2002 in the Ohio State University Student Newspaper, the Lantern.

onCampus - see the article

Written by Randy Gammage, the article appeared in the March 7, 2002 issue of onCampus, the Ohio State Univeristy Faculty and Staff Newspaper.

Impact Ohio

This report of Ohio State University Outreach and Engagement Initiatives included 'WOWing Students in Ohio,' a description of the W.O.W. program. With donations from Dow Chemical and Brechbuhler Scales and in cooperation with the teaching staff at Chapman Elementary, Chemistry Professor Susan Olesik founded Wonders of Our World in 1999. The W.O.W. program has at least doubled in size each year, and is currently serving the almost 2,500 students and more than 100 teachers at five Dublin and Columbus elementary schools. Two hundred volunteers help make the program a success and are celebrating the increase in 4th-grade proficiency test science scores.

WOSU Radio News

On May 2, 2002 WOSU reporter Dorcas Taylor joined W.O.W. volunteers at Wright Elementary for experiments with sound. Taylor visited a Kindergarten and a 2nd grade class and interviewed teachers, students and volunteers after the experiments were conducted. Carole Cummings, a Kindergarten teacher said that W.O.W. is a success. The program supplements the school's existing science program and the hands-on activities help the students relate science to their own life experiences. Students described the experiments they enjoyed and the concepts they had learned. Program Coordinator Louise Van Wey described how the topics covered by W.O.W. relate to the State of Ohio guidelines for science. Jesse Slone said that he volunteers for the Wonders of Our World program because he loves science and has fun sharing his excitement and knowledge with the young students.

ABC 6/FOX 28 News

A fifth grade classroom at Wright Elementary was visited by ABC 6/FOX 28 news on May 2, 2002 while they worked with sound experiments. The students, teacher, and the volunteers were filmed while they experimented with slinky sound waves and string telephones and clips were included that night on the news.