We just received a press kit from PBS and the producers at NOVA. They're doing a new four-part series on materials science that should interest chemical engineers and anyone looking for a new science show. What's more, it puts the glut of reality shows and Snooki in the proper perspective. (Although it's a shame they missed the opportunity to explain the mysterious origin of Snooki's Boehneresque orange tint). Obviously, the show is family friendly and produced for a lay audience, but it's always good to see and hear the scientists responsible for cutting-edge research-- some of it moving toward commercialization. And any show that helps educate the public about the role of science in their lives is important. After all, Santa isn't the contract iPad manufacturer.
The host, David Pogue, who writes a tech blog for the New York Times, has a strong enough tech background that he's not just reading cue cards. As they say in the business: he's not a meat-puppet. He gets it. He likes it. He's the avatar of the intelligent viewer, throwing himself into the role, enjoying the participatory nature of the show. And I think the producers delighted knocking him around. You will too. Here's life outside your cubicle, newsboy-- hope you have laptop insurance. Click here to read Pogue's NY Times blog. PBS has injected just enough Mythbusters and Jackass DNA to attract a wider audience but escape accusations of shameless pandering as Pogue takes viewers on a bumpy, neck-snapping, shark-infested, g-force-crushing, crash-filled, behind-the-scenes look at innovations that are ushering in a new generation of materials. The information-to-mayhem ratio is comfortably sub-pander.
On January 19, 2011 NOVA will kickoff the first hour of Making Stuff: Stronger, Smaller, Cleaner, Smarter. The four-part special marks the move of the long-running science series to a new weekly time slot on Wednesday nights at 9pm ET/PT on PBS. Watch a series promo. Making Stuff: Stronger (Premieres Wednesday January 19, 2011 at 9PM ET/PT) NOVA begins the four-hour program looking for the world's strongest stuff. Pogue travels from the deck of a U.S. naval aircraft carrier to a demolition derby to the country's top research labs to check in with the experts who are re-engineering what nature has given us to create the next generation of strong "stuff".