Numerous researchers from the University of Vermont were profiled in Emerging Science, a program on Vermont Public Television that received an award from the National Educational Telecommunications Association at their annual conference this month.

VPT won the award in content production for science/nature for the third season of Emerging Science, a series that features Vermont scientists who expand human knowledge and help solve problems around the world.

The Emerging Science project features broadcast programs, as well as web resources and community events.

Podcasts and full episodes from the last three seasons of Emerging Science are available on demand at www.vpt.org.

A fourth season will be produced later this year.

UVM Scientists

In the first episode, Emerging Science explores the cosmos with astrophysicist Joanna Rankin of the University of Vermont. She uses radio telescopes to explore one of the strangest of all celestial bodies: the pulsar. These city-sized stars are so dense that one teaspoon of pulsar would weigh as much as 3,000 Empire State Buildings.

In the second episode, Emerging Science looks at a new interdisciplinary project led by UVM testing whether small-scale biofuel production can aid dairy farming in Vermont. Agronomist Heather Darby of UVM Extension, visits a farm in Alburgh, Vt., where experimental crops are being grown for fuel. Others on the team are Mary Watzin and Don Ross of the University of Vermont.

In the third episode, Emerging Science follows researchers who identify and track food pathogens. The University of Vermont’s Jane Hill explains the complex issues of pathogen migration and the work her lab is doing to prevent it. UVM scientists Catherine Donnelly and Paul Kindstedt contrast large scale and regional food production.

The fourth episode explores the science of disease transmission and features work on malaria by University of Vermont professor Arne Bomblies. Also, Jon Erickson and Michel Masozera of UVM’s Gund Institute introduce viewers to the HALI Project in Tanzania that works on the prevention of disease transmission among humans, domestic animals and wild animals.

More Information

Vermont EPSCoR (Experimental Program to Stimulate Competitive Research) funds the Emerging Science project. Located at UVM, Vermont EPSCoR supports Vermont scientists and business leaders -- many of whom appear in the series --through funding, outreach and technology development.

Amy Seidl, an ecologist who received her doctorate at UVM and is currently a visiting professor in the Environmental Program, serves as program host.

Emerging Science has won several other awards, including an Emmy Award in the category of "Advanced Media."

For additional information contact:

Vermont Public Television

            Ann Curran, (802) 655-8059, acurran@vpt.org

            Jeff Vande Griek, (802) 655-8062, jeffv@vpt.org

University of Vermont

            Joshua Brown, (802) 656-3039, joshua.e.brown@uvm.edu