The Lush List 8/19/15: Raw Science TV and Netflix's Project Mc2

Project Mc2 Dolls + A Netflix Show = A Winning Formula

So sorry about the pun...couldn't help myself!

But that's just because I'm excited and intrigued by the new Project Mc2 dolls, described on their Toys R Us listing as "a team of four super-smart and seriously cool girls who use their love of science and their spy skills as they go on missions for secret organization, NOV8™ (that's "innovate"!)."

For once, I'm hoping that the copy lives up to its promise. The dolls also come with experiment kits, such as the DIY volcano that comes with the Adrienne Attoms doll.

The toy launch is accompanied by an original, live-action Netflix series of the same name, starring Ysa Panerojo ("Camryn Coyle"), Victoria Vida ("Adrienne Attoms"), Mika Abdalla ("McKeyla McAlister") and Genneya Walton ("Bryden Bandweth"). Writing credits so far include Katiedid Langrock and Jordana Arkin (Melissa & Joey, Significant Others), and the show's Executive Producers include AwesomenessTV's Brian Robbins and Shauna Phelan, both of whom have tons of experience creating content for young audiences. According to an article on Fortune.com, additional Project Mc2 content will be featured on AwesomenessTV, DreamworksTV and YouTube.

Official trailer for Project Mc2 Netflix series

It's hard to believe that this STEM-oriented brand comes from MGA Entertainment, the same company that brought us the Bratz dolls. But Isaac Larian, CEO of MGA, has a personal connection to the Project Mc2 brand. He studied civil engineering at California Polytechnic State University, and according to the Fortune.com piece, was surprised to find that even now, women make up only about 15% of the class. Additionally, he was inspired by his daughter, an entrepreneur. He hopes the show and the product line will encourage other young girls to follow in her footsteps and become innovators. From Fortune.com:

Larian thinks that by targeting girls in elementary school and early middle school, Project Mc² will impart a pro-STEM message to girls, as well as boys and families, that much sooner. The dolls are targeted to girls ages 6 through 10, while the series demo is targeted to ages 6 through 13.

“Hopefully, this is just the beginning. We’d like to expand the project even further. Because if you’re [studying STEM] and your girlfriend is doing it, and your sister is doing it, how long before everyone is doing it, and then STEM becomes cool?” Larian says.

If you're looking for an alternative to Barbie dolls or the next show for those kids who have grown out of Odd Squad or Miles From Tomorrowland, Project Mc2 is definitely worth checking out.

h/t: Fellow Sciren Taryn O'Neill

Raw Science Film Festival is Now Open for Entries

The 2nd Annual Raw Science Film Festival, which features films on science and technology, is now taking entries for the December 5th, 2015 event. This year's theme is "Virtual Reality."

You can find all the entry details here, but here's an overview of the main things to know:

The festival accepts both fiction and non-fiction films
Both students and professionals can submit and will compete in different categories based on a combo of length and format.
The festival has some very cool judges from the worlds of science and entertainment, including Bill Nix (AMPAS, “The Prophet"), Paul Hynek (Giant Studios - LOTR, Avatar), Joel Hynek (Visual Effects - The Matrix), Liz Keim (The Exploratorium), Hussain Currimbhoy (Sundance Institute), Iram Parveen Bilal (Josh, The PhD Movie) and Rick Loverd (The Science & Entertainment Exchange). Kip Thorne will judge the“Kip Thorne Gravity Award."
The submission deadline is November 6, 2015.

The festival is presented by Raw Science TV, an online network that produces and distributes on-demand videos, news and original programming about science and technology. Entrants should note that according to the festival rules, all finalists and winners grant Raw Science the right to air their “Winning Entries” on Raw Science NETWORKS for 12 months. If you have exclusivity agreements with other entities, I suggest contacting the festival before entering to find out more details and find out if it's an issue.

For more information on the festival, click here. Need some inspiration? Read about last year's winners, or watch this video of 3D Systems designing and creating the first ever Raw Science Film Festival Awards for the 2014 event and imagine it taking up some room on your shelf.