Yesterday and then again today, two competing ideas about dealing with how to fight the spread of H1N1 have been presented at press conferences. Yesterday, Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius, together with Ad Council President and CEO Peggy Conlon held a press conference call to discuss the importance of getting vaccinated against the H1N1. A set of new public service announcements have been made available at www.flu.gov. Yawn.

Meanwhile, the Federation of American Scientists are launching Immune Attack. On first glance, it looks like a three-dimensional first shooter game designed for high school age immunologists. The game was released in May 2008, and today, Dr. Melanie Stegman is presenting a poster session at the American Society for Cell Biology Annual Meeting. Not only have students learned cell biology from the game, but they’ve been inspired to create their own video games.

Dr. Stegman illustrates that not only should women be leaders in science, but that science can be cool, interesting, and fun. So, if you want to be bored into why you should get a flu vaccine, check out the HHS PSA. If you want to be engaged in why you should get a flu vaccine, check out the FAS game. If you really want to make a difference, get your local high school biology teachers to start incorporating games like Immune Attack into their curriculum.