I spent five semesters taking three classes in chemistry (barely... it was almost six) in high school and college. Oddly enough I used the same textbook each time, but that's another story. My biggest roadblock was visualizing the atomic processes and crazy physics that the teacher and textbook rambled on about.

Sure, I could appreciate the chameleon changing color in biology class... or the structure of a volcanic rock in Geology 101. But during countless abstract chemistry lessons, I kept envisioning a virtual classroom where we could all work together to get our hands on 3-D hydrogen and oxygen atoms and make water... or by recording live data inside a digital recreation of a nuclear reactor to learn how it works.

Is there a way? Even the education experts aren't nearly as effective as they could be... and I consider myself one of them. I've done science outreach for seven years now, but lots of ideas are trapped in my head, lacking the funding to be set free.

And then there's Matt. He's ready to take on this challenge of bringing world-class science to kids who otherwise would glaze over unless you started talking about MTV, Tony Hawk, or Xbox. Enter Xience, Matt's new collection of jaw-dropping science demos, rockin' informal teaching moments, and truly interactive experiences that exemplify this great promise for the future of education. From a quiet and humble beginning to what promises to be both entertaining and profound, Matt is on a quest to reach the next level in science outreach.

So I pose my question again: "Is there a way?" And Matt responds with a resounding "Yes! We have the technology to educate without pain." Here's to the potential giant leaps in really making education accessible to the masses, and "the wondrous possibilities that await out tiny selves."