Video Contest Aims to Make Science Fun

Oct. 6, 2010 - PRLog -- The creation of science-based YouTube videos are more important than ever as education funding is stretched to the limit. A contest intended to encourage adding high-quality science videos to the YouTube website has been announced by xUmp.com, a leading internet retailer of science supplies.

YouTube is currently one of the most viewed websites in the world, according to recent rankings from Alexa, a popular internet market research tool.  Xump.com contest organizers are hoping to add more science-related videos to the popular site by hosting the contest. “YouTube has become an amazing venue in which to share videos showing scientific experiments and information, but oftentimes the videos are not of the best quality or don't fully demonstrate the scientific principles behind the experiment being taped”, noted Anton Skorucak, CEO of xUmp.com. “We want to change this. Teachers need more cost-effective ways of demonstrating scientific principles and YouTube can become a better conduit for this with better science videos.”

The web-based competition will take place on xUmp.com’s YouTube page.  Contest rules are easy: demonstrate, in a four-minute or less video, how science can be fun. Entries must include at least 1 item that is sold on xUmp.com’s website or something similar to a product that can be found at xUmp.com. To encourage high-quality videos, contestants can win a grand prize of an Apple iPad or $500 worth of xUmp.com merchandise, a second prize of $250 worth of xUmp.com merchandise, and a third prize of $100 worth of xUmp.com merchandise.

What makes this contest unique is the use of audience participation.  The winners of the contest will be chosen based on the total number of video views over a 30-day period.  “It is important to create social media opportunities that truly embolden people to think in creative ways about how science impacts daily lives,” commented Ana Sanchez, Operations Manager of xUmp.com. “Being a part of the process of deciding the winners is a great way for an audience to feel valued and heard, not to mention perhaps learn more about science. We believe this contest will meet all of these goals.”

Submissions are being accepted in the form of a video uploaded to the xUmp.com video contest website at http://www.xump.com/contest. Videos will be reviewed and then uploaded to the xUmp.com YouTube channel upon acceptance.  All videos must meet YouTube’s user guidelines, and must feature at least one product found on xUmp.com or something similar to a product that can be found for sale on xUmp.com (no purchase from xUmp.com is necessary to participate). Videos cannot exceed four minutes in length.  The deadline for submissions is 11:59pm PST on Friday, November 11th, 2010.  Winners will be announced on Friday, December 10th, 2010.  The official contest announcement and rules can be found at http://www.xump.com/contest.  

xUmp.com is one of the largest online retailers specializing in science supplies and toys, shipping to over 200,000 customers in 105 countries worldwide each year. Consumers interested in learning more about xUmp.com can visit www.xump.com for additional information, or contact Andrea Spilsbury at 562-492-9560 ext. 112 or Ana Sanchez at 562-492-9560 ext. 113.

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xUmp.com is a leading internet retailer of scientific supplies, gifts and toys. Everything from magnets, microscopes, telescopes, science kits, gadgets, desk toys and more.