Better late than never, as they say. The Science Alberta Foundation won a Webby in May 2011 for its animated video, Do you know what nano means? From a May 10, 2011 article by Jody McPhearson for the University of Calgary’s Today website,

The International Academy of Digital Arts and Sciences named Science Alberta Foundation’s “Do You Know What Nano Means?” the best online animated video of the year.

The video, available at www.wonderville.ca, was produced by Science Alberta with the help of a Calgary think tank including University of Calgary chemistry professor and director of the nanosciene program Dr. David Cramb and two of his students.

“I was frankly surprised even to be nominated, let alone to win,” writes a modest Cramb. “The competition was awesome. I think our advantage may have been multifold. First, the quirkiness of the animation was really catchy. It makes me think of Tim Burton [an Albertan artist drew the animation]. Second, the timing of subject matter (nano) could not have been more perfect. Lastly, the message was simple and clear. Even a child could get it, and that was the point.”

The Wonderville website, where the award-winning animation and others can be found, was highlighted here in my April 4, 2011 posting.

I belatedly learned of the award in a Jan. 8, 2012 article by Chris Nelson about the Alberta Science Foundation and its chief executive officer (CEO), Arlene Ponting, recently voted one of Canada’s 100 most influential women for the third time in a row, for the Calgary Herald,

In June, the foundation was honoured in New York with two Webby awards – international awards honouring excellence on the Internet.

“We created an animation on nanotechnology showing how small nano actually is. It was a very difficult concept because nano is so small people can’t imagine it.” [said Ponting]

Up against 10,000 applications from more than 60 countries, the foundation won in the film and animation categories. In accepting, they were allowed five words to describe their entry and their vision.

They chose: Small Is the New Big.

“Nanotechnology is a small science, but has a huge impact and the Science Alberta Foundation is a small organization, but we have a huge impact. Last year we provided over a million science experiences through our program so the parallel is serendipitous.” [said Ponting]

There’s more about Ponting in the article; I wanted to focus on the nano.