Dr. B in 3, hosted by Dr. Frederic Bertley, a leading voice in science communication and world-renowned science educator, was created to make science accessible and culturally relevant to all. The series was created with one goal: to break down complex scientific ideas into energetic, three-minute episodes that meet audiences where they are. With fast-paced visual storytelling and a trusted voice at the center, Dr. B in 3 increases science literacy and sparks curiosity, especially among younger and underrepresented audiences often left out of traditional STEM content.
Built specifically for YouTube, Dr. B in 3 has become a go-to science show for K-12 learners, teachers, parents, college students, and young professionals, blending education with entertainment in a fun and easily accessible format.
Each episode is paired with a free downloadable discussion guide available through the COSI website. Designed for classroom use, the guides include open-ended questions, group activities, and prompts to support discussions, and turn each video into a 30-40 minute lesson that builds critical thinking and collaboration.
Across four seasons and 39 episodes, the series has tackled topics ranging from the human brain to quantum computing. Season 4 builds on this foundation by exploring how technology shapes our lives. With smartphones as both the medium and the message, new episodes explore attention spans, digital communication, data privacy, and the environmental impact of tech. These stories aren’t just relevant – they’re timely, and perfectly suited to a mobile-first, digitally native audience.
Dr. B in 3 demystifies big ideas while making learning feel exciting.
Dr. B in 3 flips the script on traditional academic and museum-based science engagement. Instead of expecting audiences to come to us, COSI is meeting them where they already are – online – embracing YouTube and social media as dynamic spaces for learning. The premise is simple but powerful: start seeing science differently, in a language everyone can understand.
Rooted in the passion and vision of renowned scientist and cultural leader Dr. Frederic Bertley – known affectionately to many as “Dr. B” – each episode in the animated series explores a single scientific concept or societal question, from quantum computing and brain science to artificial intelligence and the behavioral impact of smartphones. Season 4 premiered in March 2025 and examines how phones affect attention, how digital communication works, and how modern technology intersects with privacy and environmental issues.
To bring Dr. B in 3 to life on YouTube, the creative team blends provocative questions, visual storytelling, and social relevance. Designed to feel native to the online platform, it is fast-paced, clever, and rooted in curiosity. The show pairs Dr. Bertley’s expert science communication POV with stylized animation and hip-hop sound design. Pop culture connections and Grammy-winning musical collaborators like Alphabet Rockers and Swoope give the series a distinct, culturally resonant identity.
Explaining complex science in just three minutes demands precision – every word, visual, and beat must serve a purpose and pack a punch. Dr. B leads a collaborative team of scientists, writers, animators, and editors in this effort, and the team focuses on accessible and memorable storytelling. Free of jargon while still full of high-level science cred, Dr. B. in 3 leverages humor, metaphor, and informal energy to educate and delight audiences. Each episode follows a robust production journey, through scriptwriting, storyboarding, recording, scoring, animation, design, editing, and review.
To extend reach beyond online digital viewing, the series integrates with COSI’s Learning Lunchbox initiative, a 2024 Shorty Impact Award winner, and a program that has distributed nearly 400,000 kits across 40 states and seven countries. Every kit includes links to Dr. B in 3 episodes, and some even feature a Digital STEAM Portal – a mobile video player where students can explore Dr. B in 3 videos alongside hands-on activities, creating an immersive and interactive learning experience.
While the format remains consistent, season 4 represents a thematic evolution. With most YouTube users watching from mobile devices, the storytelling focuses on how those same devices shape behavior, from attention and wellbeing to environmental impact. That meta focus, addressing both medium and message, is exactly what gives Dr. B in 3 its edge on YouTube.
Dr. B in 3 has met and surpassed its goals through critical recognition, global audience reach, and educational integration. In 2025, the series earned two Emmy® Awards for its innovative approach to science education, bringing COSI’s total Emmy count to 13.
In season 4, the series expanded its audience, tapping into technology‑focused topics that resonate with digital natives, boosting engagement across COSI’s YouTube channel and platforms.
Its integration with COSI’s Learning Lunchbox initiative has proven transformative, with nearly 400,000 STEAM kits distributed, each offering direct access to Dr. B in 3 content via video links or Digital STEAM Portal video players, turning passive viewing into immersive learning.
Dr. B in 3 videos include free education discussion guides for each episode. Designed for all ages and settings, these guides help facilitate dialogue around key science concepts from middle school classrooms to college labs. For adults, the videos serve as conversation starters for COSI’s Science Meets Society live community event series.
Educators, parents, students and community partners engaging with COSI’s Learning Lunchbox program, along with YouTube viewers, have praised the series for its clarity, energy, and relevance. YouTube comments frequently highlight moments of sudden understanding – those “wait, I get it” realizations – that speak directly to the show’s goal of making science click.
In a crowded content landscape, Dr. B in 3 carves out a distinct niche, demonstrating that fast, culturally attuned science storytelling can earn accolades, engage viewers, and act as a catalyst for interactive learning, delivering precisely what it set out to do.