Tennessee Explorers: Partnering With Public Television to Tell the Stories of the STEM Explorers Who Live Among Us

这个CRPA项目旨在告知田纳西州居民关于范德比尔特大学正在进行的STEM研究以及正在进行这项令人兴奋的工作的科学家。《田纳西探险家》是一部由两部分组成的电视连续剧，它采用采访的形式来介绍科学家，既作为真实的人，又作为研究专业人员。科学家们的问题包括他们在哪里长大，他们作为孩子做了什么，以及他们如何发展到成为一名有成就的科学家的阶段。此外，每个科学家或工程师将讨论他们的研究和相关的过程，传达科学的探索性。两个30分钟的节目将在纳什维尔公共电视台（NPT）播出，每个节目有3名NSF资助的科学家。这些节目将在全州播出10次，并将在网上提供给教师和公众使用。这是NPT获得艾美奖的工作人员与大学研究人员之间的独特合作。这是一个真正的伙伴关系，每个人都贡献自己的专业知识，让公众了解尖端的科学研究。显而易见的是，在所有的想法，有一个暗流，青年鼓励将产生方面的模型和职业生涯，成为未来的科学家。虽然目标观众是纳什维尔地区，附属PBS电台将广播采访全州估计达到10万人在第一年。电视连续剧和随后的探索者访谈将通过新的田纳西州数字学习图书馆提供，而DVD将应要求分发给学校和科学博物馆。如果广泛的评估研究认为这一方案是成功的，那么该方案很可能会作为一个全国性的模式加以推广。

This CRPA project seeks to inform Tennessee residents about STEM research that is occurring at Vanderbilt University and the scientists that are undertaking this exciting work. Tennessee Explorers is a two-part television series which uses an interview format to present scientists, both as real people and as research professionals. Questions for the scientists include where they grew up, what they did as children, and how they progressed to the stage of being an accomplished scientist. Moreover, each scientist or engineer will discuss their research and associated processes, conveying the exploratory nature of science.Two 30-minute programs will air on Nashville Public Television (NPT) featuring 3 NSF-funded scientists on each show. The programs will be broadcast 10 times throughout the state and will be available online for subsequent use by teachers and the general public. This is a unique collaboration between the Emmy-award winning staff at NPT and university research faculty. It is a true partnership with each contributing their expertise to inform the public about cutting-edge scientific research. Obvious in all of the ideas, there is the undercurrent that youth encouragement will be generated in terms of models and careers to become future scientists.While the intended audience is the Nashville area, affiliated PBS stations will broadcast the interviews across the state reaching an estimated 100,000 individuals in the first year. The television series and subsequent explorer interviews will be made available through the new Tennessee Digital Learning Library, while DVDs will be distributed to schools and science museums upon request. If successful as judged by the extensive evaluation studies, this program will likely be expanded as a national model.