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Project Descriptions

Radio Lab -- A New Approach to Science Storytelling on Radio

August 1, 2007 - July 31, 2010 | Media and Technology
Radio Lab will produce 20 hour-long interdisciplinary science programs and 30 shorter features to be aired on NPR news magazine programs on a wide range of core STEM topics exploring how research is done as well as what the scientific results mean to the listener. The programs are co-hosted by Robert Krulwich, science reporter for NPR, and Jared Abumrad, WNYC radio producer and music composer. The programs are using a new, unorthodox format with music, live sounds and conversations between the hosts designed to appeal to young adult listeners who previously thought they did not like science. Each episode is crafted around a scientific finding and aims to connect the scientific inquiry to philosophical and universal implications. Program topics will include biology and neuroscience as well as physics, genetics, chemistry, math and engineering. The program carriage goal is to have the hour-long programs airing on 100 stations reaching three to four million listeners by the end of the project. The shorter segments will be distributed by NPR in its regular news magazine programs. Programs will also be podcast on NPR and WNYC's web sites, as well as through iTunes. The project will also train NPR science reporters on this new approach to science news content.

Funders

NSF
Funding Program: ISE/AISL
Award Number: 0638894
Funding Amount: 788901

TEAM MEMBERS

  • Ellen Horne
    Principal Investigator
    New York Public Radio - WNYC
  • Jad Abumrad
    Co-Principal Investigator
    New York Public Radio - WNYC
  • Robert Krulwich
    Co-Principal Investigator
    New York Public Radio - WNYC
  • 2013 06 04 B Flagg Photo
    Evaluator
    Multimedia Research
  • Discipline: Chemistry | Engineering | Life science | Mathematics | Nature of science | Physics
    Audience: Youth/Teen (up to 17) | General Public | Museum/ISE Professionals
    Environment Type: Media and Technology | Broadcast Media | Websites, Mobile Apps, and Online Media

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