What is The Science & Entertainment Exchange?

The Exchange is a program of the National Academy of Sciences (NAS) intended to foster creative collaborations between scientists and entertainment industry professionals. We do this by providing Hollywood with quick and reliable connections to top scientists and engineers from across the country to help bring the reality of science to creative and engaging storylines. Our job is to help enrich the visual and narrative creative arts with interesting, engaging, often surprising details. These details make entertainment much more interesting and more commercially viable, all while bringing a greater appreciation of science to a broad public. We ultimately hope to use the vehicle of popular entertainment media to deliver sometimes subtle, but nevertheless powerful, messages about science without diluting the entertainment value of a movie or TV program by inserting documentary-style educational messaging.

But what do you do?

The heart of our program is matchmaking: connecting entertainment industry professionals with the right people in the scientific community who can help them make their creative projects the best they can be. Think of us as 1-800-FIND-A-SCIENTIST. When Hollywood needs a scientist, a quick call to us is all they need.

But we also do a whole lot more. We sponsor special events such as screenings, panel discussions, workshops, and even in-home conversational salons. These activities combine to advance our primary mission of fostering creative collaboration between the two communities.

What projects have you been involved with?

You can find a listing of some of our current and past projects here.

I’m trying to find your location/contact info/staff directory.

You can find this information here.

Why is the National Academy of Sciences (NAS) sponsoring this program?

We think a better question is “Why wouldn’t the NAS sponsor this program?” The NAS believes that The Science & Entertainment Exchange represents a valuable communications opportunity. It is the institution’s responsibility to communicate with professionals and the public so they are familiar with the crucial scientific, technological, and medical issues of the day, and thus can become better-informed citizens. One way to more effectively capture the public’s attention is to combine real science with quality entertainment, especially given the fact that studies have shown that people receive much of their information about science and technology from TV and other entertainment vehicles.

How is the program funded?

The Exchange is supported by grants, private donations, and National Academy of Sciences endowment funds. The National Academy of Sciences is a private, nonprofit institution chartered by Congress to provide crucial scientific advice to the nation. If you would like to donate to the program, click here.