Childhood shows that made science fun and fueled our creativity forever!

On National Science Day, let’s revisit some of our favourite TV shows that taught us curiosity is a superpower! 

Growing up in the early 2000s inculcating scientific temperament in children wasn't just a duty, our parents and school teachers treated it like a quiet, proud tradition that they held very dear to their heart. At home, it was dad who would excitedly share news about ISRO launches, or technological advancement and at school we had some wonderful teachers who drew us to the subject with their innovative teaching and intriguing narration of heroic tales of legends like Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam or Dr. Homi J. Bhabha. Those stories left our little eyes wide with wonder, inspired us to stay curious, and question everything around us! But besides this there was also something that made science a lot cooler, accessible, and deeply ours. 

After a day spent burying our heads in intimidating textbooks or getting stuck inside stuffy labs in white coats around stern lab assistants, we would finally rush home to some magical half-hour shows that turned science into a fun, messy, wildly creative subject. Those episodes, anchored by affable hosts, made experimenting our second nature. We just dove in with whatever lay in our store rooms, tried a few tricks, failed, laughed and kept trying until we got the desired result. These shows turned my generation into curious cats who still get excited about random ‘what if’ questions, and are super quick with household fixes or vehicle hacks using whatever is lying around, mind you, without the need to Google or scroll YouTube for solutions!  

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One of the pure science based shows we absolutely loved was F.A.Q. (Frequently Asked Questions) on POGO. Headlined by a super engaging host, Prateek Sethialongside his quirky robot assistant Crash, F.A.Q made science feel like an adventure rather than a lesson. Each segment of the episodes were packed with wild experiments, mind-blowing facts and that infectious energy from the hosts who made us believe chemistry is a cake-walk! Whether it was building our own little submarine, understanding how ‘magic candles’ work or controlling water through your hand gestures (okay, with some chemistry tricks, BTS), the show had it all- surprises that made us gasp, humor that had us giggling, and loads of information delivered so effortlessly that learning felt like the best kind of play. F.A.Q is now available on POGO's official Youtube channel. 

But here’s where it all started- Backyard Science. Aired on National Geographic, this Australian show was hosted by the very affable Tarun Victor Gordon and Dana Kronental and taught us that science wasn’t at some distant place but right inside our messy, immediate surroundings. True to its name, the show wasn’t set in well equipped laboratories, or featured people in kits- just a bunch of regular kids who turned everyday stuff like kitchen junk, garden thrash, or household items into something fun and practical. I remember scribbling down notes from every episode because I wanted to try them myself. The show basically endorsed the idea that science is for everyone, anywhere, anytime. You can revist the show on YouTube. 

And how can I ever forget M.A.D. (Music, Art, and Dance) on POGO? Hosted by the iconic Rob, it wasn’t strictly science, but got our creative juices flowing like nothing else. Every Sunday, 10 AM we sat glued to the couch and watched in amazement as he turned cardboard into masterpieces, some of which even we tried and proudly adorned our homes with. Rob’s calm, encouraging demeanor made every piece of craft feel achievable, and those creations, especially the most anticipated Big Picture segment, often sneaked in real science facts about light, water, or other materials without us realizing that we were learning! The show demonstrated how understanding of basic concepts of fine arts and physics can come handy in life, while also reminding us that creativity is the spark that makes discovery fun! You can relive the nostalgia of M.A.D on POGO's official YouTube channel. 

On National Science Day, here’s a big, nostalgic thank you to the makers of these shows, and all those unsung heroes of our educational TV, who  didn’t just teach facts, but lit up imaginations, sparked questions and made science feel like magic we could all touch!  

If you grew up watching these too, drop a memory in the comments below!

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