(Describer) In an animation, streams of light collide to create a globe filled with water. Title: Science Nation. A building has a mural of people along the bottom of it.

(male narrator) It's after school. This building in downtown Oakland is buzzing with activity. Teenagers are raring to go...learn. You just double-click on the actual--

(Describer) A young man is shown where to click in software.

(narrator) These kids are working under a tight deadline. In two hours they'll go live with a news radio show. Ever since I was little, I was born into it...

(Describer) Another young man reads in front of a microphone.

(narrator) They have to pick stories... Find out what's going on.

(narrator) write commentaries, even compose music.

(female) Eighty-five percent of the young people are from low-income families and youth of color.

(Describer) Lissa Soep:

They come from the local schools nearby and spend their time here after school doing creative and technical work.

(narrator) With support from the National Science Foundation, producer and educator Lissa Soep and the team at Youth Radio are teaching kids how to investigate science stories like reporters and develop technology like programmers. Change one line of code in order to make this work. Oh, yeah, there you go.

(narrator) Today Luis Flores edits an interview for a show hosted by students

called "Brains and Beakers" for National Geographic Online. Joi Morgan is getting some voice coaching on a story for NPR on the possible health effects of lipstick.

(Morgan) Concern about cancer as well as brain damage in children...

(female) Youth Radio has figured out, through developments over the last 20 years, how to engage kids. How to make science, technology, engineering, and math deeply relevant to them.

(narrator) In the basement, kids are learning to develop mobile apps to showcase stories they are working on.

(Describer) Asha Richardson:

We have access to Photoshop and Illustrator and tools to develop mobile and Web apps.

(narrator) Asha Richardson was once a student here. She and software engineer Kurt Collins teach kids like Donta Jackson. I think you should start styling the divs.

(male) Tablets and mobile devices are becoming so prevalent, we can't just be consumers anymore.

(Describer) Collins:

Ninety-five percent of users are consumers. The 5% that are creators add significant amounts to the economy. We're trying to teach these kids how to become that 5%.

(Describer) Students sit at rows of computers.

(narrator) Back in the newsroom, it's showtime. Soep plans to make a Youth Radio tool kit available to students around the country.

(female) That will allow educators in different environments, in schools, in science museums, in community organizations, to take what we do and adapt and apply it in their own learning environment.

(narrator) Next time you switch on the radio news, pay attention. That reporter just might be a kid you know.

(Describer) A globe turns by the title.

For Science Nation, I'm Miles O'Brien.