Apr 1, 2009 6:48 pm US/Central
U Of M Videos Getting Worldwide Notice On YouTube
MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) ―
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There are 95 videos on the University of Minnesota's main YouTube Channel, telling viewers about research, social issues and more happening at the University. (File)
Would you guess that a few of the top videos on YouTube were made right here in Minnesota? They all have one thing in common -- the University of Minnesota.
These videos are getting the University noticed around the world.
There are 95 on the University of Minnesota's main YouTube Channel, telling viewers about research, social issues and more happening at the University.
"Whatever it may be, we're just looking for another way to get the message out," said Justin Ware with University News Service. "We've been on YouTube for better than a year now. It's doing great. It's doing great."
Ware helped produce some of the serious spots. More than 23,000 people have watched a video that highlights groundbreaking HIV and AIDS research done at the University.
Students have also submitted ideas, like one about trash and recycling.
Anyone who's part of the University of Minnesota, whether they're students, staff, professors or alumni, can make their own video and then submit it to the University. If the University chooses, it'll
upload it to the channel.
So far, the impact has been dramatic. More people have watched a story
done by the University of Minnesota about the Warner Brothers movie "Watchmen" than any other on the entire channel. That's nearly 1.5 million views.
It beats out videos uploaded by other universities, including the University of Kansas, Vanderbilt, Dartmouth and MIT.
University of Minnesota Science and Astronomy Professor, Jim Kakalios, stars in that video. He discusses science and physics in the six-and-a-half minute video.
"No, I never thought it would get this big," he remarked.
Kakalios has a theory for why he's so popular.
"If you can present a positive view of science, that it's not this stuffy thing, that it has broader applications, then that's the message that you want to get across," said Kakalios.
Wade is putting together the next video. He and other producers plan to make several videos about the University's new football stadium when it opens.
With success so far, Wade's hoping his next story will be another blockbuster for the University.
"We're putting the video on there, and people are seeing it," he remarked.
(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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