In an editorial in Science, Alan Alda, actor who once played Richard Feynman and acted as the host of the television show Scientific American Frontiers for 11 years, presented his challenge for communicating science.

” I would like to try a playful experiment. Would you be willing to have a go at writing your own explanation of what a flame is, one that an 11-year-old would find intelligible, maybe even fun? The Center for Communicating Science is looking for new ways to light up peoples minds with science, and you might point the way. We will try out the entries on real 11-year-olds and see which work best. . . .

So here I am. I am 11 years old and looking up at you with the wide eyes of curiosity. What is a flame? What is going on in there? What will you tell me?”

More details about the contest on the site of Center for Communicating Science at Stony Brook University:

http://flamechallenge.org/

The winner will receive a V.I.P. pass to the World Science Festival, from May 30 to June 3 in New York City.