Meet Chris Anderson | Executive Producer – OutSCIder Classroom

We had the good fortune of connecting with Chris Anderson and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Chris, how does your business help the community?
OutSCIder Classroom is all about getting kids excited to learn science and to protect our public lands. We do this by producing a video series that teaches science concepts best exemplified in our national parks. As a former science teacher myself, I understand the need to connect content with curriculum, which is why all our videos are tired directly to the standards. In addition to videos, we also create lesson plans to give educators the tools to connect their classrooms to our national parks and to make them amazing places to learn. These activities connect the videos to what student need to learn and give them chance to learn by doing. Our goal is to get these resources into as many classrooms as possible – which is why all OutSCIder instructional resources are free.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
One of the questions I often get asked is “You get to go to national parks for work? That’s so cool! How did you get that job?” And the reality is I just sort of made it up. Before I began working with video, I ran a blog that, at least ostensibly, was to provide teachers a way to make current events in science relative to their classrooms. However, there were a couple problems with that project. I am not a very fast writer and could only get a couple posts out a month, not than the multiple posts a week needed to gain any traction. I also had missed the blog train by about 10 years; no one was really getting into blogs by the mid 2010s.

But then I was gifted two great pieces of advice. The first, from a journalist, was to do more local stories, as news outlets are always looking for content. The second was from a good friend who said that while I could write well enough, it was my skills with people that were my real strength and that I should consider moving to video as a medium. So I put together a micro grant proposal to fund my first video project “Science Around Cincy”, which featured scientists and engineers who worked around our city. That project allowed me to learn how to create videos, make connections with our local PBS station, and get a proof of concept for doing a similar series in the National Parks. Eventually, the right opportunity opened up with National Geographic and OutSCIder Classroom began in 2021.

I tell that story because it shows that while I have a very cool job now, it took a while to get here. I had to try different things before I could figure out what worked and it took some time. The other grain of wisdom here is that it’s important to play to your strengths. I couldn’t cut it as a science writer, but I am very good on screen. So my advice to people who want a job that’s really cool is to take the time you need to try and test and fail your way into learning what is worth your time and to capitalize on the things that make you special.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
As you may imagine, I love being outdoors, so I’d start the weekend off at the Cincinnati Nature Center for a nice, long hike. But before we hit the trails, we’d fuel up at Mom and ‘Ems; first with a Franklin’s cold brew, then with one of their breakfast sandwiches. After our hike, we’d stop at Little Miami Brewing for a lunch of pizza and beer along the Little Miami River. I should also mention this is during the 4 days of the year when the weather in Ohio is perfect (sunny skies, warm, but not humid…you know what I’m talking about). After that, it’s probably some down time, because, let’s face it, I’m in my late 30s and I am in not condition to be out all day. We’d get the evening kicked off with a cocktail at Longfellow in OTR. It’s the best place to sit up at the bar (they have some of the world’s nicest bartenders), have a drink, and listen to some records. We’d then walk down to the riverfront to watch a little baseball. If I am still somehow awake, we’d grab a turtle from Gomez on the way home. Man, I am exhausted just thinking about this day!

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
I’d like to shoutout John Gibson and Northern Kentucky University. His knowledge of filmaking is encyclopedic and we constantly use his expertise as a guide. In addition to supporting production, John also is our senior editor, taking on the biggest videos and managing the Northern Kentucky University students as they edit their individual projects. John has a been an instrumental part of making OutSCIder Classroom a success and is very much appreciated!

Website: https://www.outscider.org/

Instagram: @outscider

Twitter: @thesciencejedi

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@OutSCIderClassroom