Science – Page 42 – UCSD-TV Blog

When Things Get Small Sweeps at Emmy Awards

(Press Release) LA JOLLA, CA – It’s true that UCSD-TV’s When Things Get Small a program that takes a comical look at nanoscience and features a world-renowned physicist playing a wacky version of himself on-screen, falls outside the expectations of mainstream science-for-television fare. Nevertheless, this unusual approach to explaining important science concepts to the public […]

Recipients of this prestigious award from the Pacific Southwest Chapter of the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences included UCSD physicist Ivan Schuller and UCSD-TV producer Rich Wargo in the Health/Science Program category, UCSD-La Jolla Playhouse MFA alumnus Adam Smith in the On-Camera Talent/Performer category, Matt Alioto in the Photography category, Michael Shea and David Bouzan in the Animation/Graphic Design category, and Peter Kreklow in the category of Lighting Direction. The award-winners were on-hand to accept their statuettes at the ceremony held Saturday, June 3 at the Omni Hotel in downtown San Diego.

UCSD-TV will re-broadcast “When Things Get Small” this Sunday, June 11 at 7:30 p.m. and again on June 28 at 8:30 p.m. The program can also be viewed “on-demand,” as a video podcast, or on Google Video at http://www.ucsd.tv/getsmall, and is also available for sale.

“When Things Get Small” uses a variety of comic inventions and special effects to take viewers on a comically corny romp into the real-life quest to create the smallest magnet ever known. Host Adam Smith travels alongside physicist Ivan Schuller, visiting locations ranging from Petco Park to a steaming hot tub to make sense of several important “nano” concepts. UC president Robert Dynes and Major League Baseball’s San Diego Padres owner John Moores also drop by for cameo appearances.

“When Things Get Small” was funded in part by the National Science Foundation, and produced by UCSD-TV in partnership with the California Institute for Telecommunications and Information Technology (Calit2) and the UCSD Division of Physical Sciences.

“When Things Get Small” is the first in the ‘When Things Get…” series, produced by Not Too Serious Labs, the creative collaboration of UCSD-TV producer Rich Wargo and physicist Ivan Schuller. Not Too Serious Labs’ mission is to make science funny and entertaining so you end up learning while you’re laughing. The duo is planning its next production “When Things Get Big,” a comical exploration of the gigantic machines used to investigate matter.

The purpose of the Emmy Awards is to recognize outstanding achievements in television by conferring annual awards of merit in the Pacific Southwest region. The Pacific Southwest region includes San Diego County and the television markets of Bakersfield, Oxnard, Palm Springs, San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara and Santa Maria, California, and Las Vegas, Nevada.

Behind-The-Scenes Photos from the Emmy Awards

UCSD-TV’s “When Things Get Small” Emmy winners display their statuettes (l to r) David Bouzan (Animation/Graphic Design), Matt Alioto (Photography), Adam Smith (On-Camera Talent/Performer), producers Ivan Schuller and Rich Wargo (Health/Science Program), and Peter Kreklow (Lighting Direction).

The creative team behind the award-winning “When Things Get Small” included producer Rich Wargo (l), host Adam Smith (center) and producer/star Ivan

The big screen says it all during the Emmy Awards ceremony in San Diego on June 3, 2006.

When Things Get Small Makes Comical Sense of “Nano”

LA JOLLA, November 10, 2005–Nano is today’s “buzz” word, popping up in almost any exchange or news report about the future of technology. But what exactly does this word mean? UCSD-TV’s new half-hour program “When Things Get Small,” premiering November 30 at 8PM, addresses these and other questions about the field by taking viewers of all ages on an irreverent, madcap, comically corny romp into the real-life quest to create the smallest magnet ever known. Funded by the National Science Foundation, and produced by UCSD-TV in partnership with Calit2, When Things Get Small was created by Not Too Serious Labs, the creative collaboration of Rich Wargo, science producer for UCSD-TV, and renowned UCSD physicist Ivan Schuller.

The half-hour program addresses several important “nano” concepts with entertaining effects, humor and comic invention, and illustrates answers to such questions as How small is nano? What happens when things get small? And, how do you make things small? With special appearances by UC President Robert Dynes and Padres owner John Moores (disguised as a peanut-seller at Petco Park), the program is a departure from typical science-for-television fare.

Early feedback on the program has been overwhelmingly positive. An invitation-only sneak preview audience screened the program at the October 28 opening celebration of UCSD’s Calit2 building. Guests laughed and learned and the program elicited enthusiastic responses: “Entertaining and interesting,” “I keep wondering what nano is and I found the answer today,” and “It’s ‘Good Eats’ for sciences,” commented another viewer, referring to a popular Food Network program.

“The preview response is very encouraging,” commented Rich Wargo, UCSD-TV science producer. “In developing the program, we found research indicating that people actually learn better when humor is involved. So there is a method, not just madness here, and it seems to be working.” Wargo continued, “But commenting about all that is boring and pretentious – just enjoy the show. As one of our muses once said: ‘That’s All Folks!’”

“This program is a terrific example of the blending of science and entertainment, ” stated Larry Smarr, Director of Calit2, who screened the film at the October 28 sneak preview. “It fits wonderfully with Calit2′s mission of helping the public understand what research organizations like ours are doing and how it might impact their lives.”

For more information about “When Things Get Small,” including additional air dates, behind the scenes photos, or to view the program and the “making of” special on-demand, visit www.ucsd.tv/getsmall.

White Mountain Wins Emmy

(Press Release) La Jolla–In the Shadow of White Mountain received a prestigious Emmy award for Best Documentary by the Pacific Southwest Chapter of the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences. The program’s producer, Rich Wargo of UCSD-TV, accepted the award at the 31st Annual Pacific Southwest Emmy Awards ceremony held on June 18, […]

(Press Release) La Jolla–In the Shadow of White Mountain received a prestigious Emmy award for Best Documentary by the Pacific Southwest Chapter of the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences. The program’s producer, Rich Wargo of UCSD-TV, accepted the award at the 31st Annual Pacific Southwest Emmy Awards ceremony held on June 18, 2005 at the Omni San Diego Hotel.

In addition to the Emmy recognition, “In the Shadow of White Mountain” was recently honored with a “Certificate for Creative Excellence” by the United States International Film and Video Festival’s 38th Annual Awards competition. In early 2005, the documentary received a bronze Telly Award, an international competition honoring outstanding local, regional, and cable TV commercials and programs, as well as the finest video and film productions.

“These awards represent the hard work of everyone involved in the program,” says Wargo. “The White Mountain research station and the people who work there are truly a special part of my life, and I hope we can share their passion and my special fondness for this place–as well as some dispassionate science–with the audience.”

Nearly three years in the making and featuring the distinctive voice of narrator Peter Coyote, “In the Shadow of White Mountain” tells the many stories of the White Mountain Research Station (WMRS), a biological field station with both the highest research lab and the highest Internet node in North America. The hour-long documentary includes segments ranging from the extreme hibernation of White Mountain’s squirrels to what the evolution of the Willow Beetle can tell us about climate change. The program was made possible by a grant from the National Science Foundation through its Divisions of Biological Infrastructure and Elementary, Secondary and Informal Science Education. More information about the program, including photos, a look behind-the-scenes of the production, and links to view the program “on-demand,” visit http://www.ucsd.tv/whitemountain.

White Mountain Wins International Award

(Press Release) SAN DIEGO–The University of California, San Diego Television (UCSD-TV) documentary In the Shadow of White Mountain was recognized with a “Certificate for Creative Excellence” by the International Film and Video Festival’s 38th Annual Awards competition. Selected from over 1,300 entries from 30 countries, this third place award in the Sciences, Research, and Exploration […]

(Press Release) SAN DIEGO–The University of California, San Diego Television (UCSD-TV) documentary In the Shadow of White Mountain was recognized with a “Certificate for Creative Excellence” by the International Film and Video Festival’s 38th Annual Awards competition. Selected from over 1,300 entries from 30 countries, this third place award in the Sciences, Research, and Exploration category is the second for this documentary and its producer, UCSD-TV’s Rich Wargo. In early 2005, the documentary was honored with a bronze Telly Award, an international competition honoring outstanding local, regional, and cable TV commercials and programs, as well as the finest video and film productions.

Nearly three years in the making, “In the Shadow of White Mountain” made its television debut in November 2004 on UCSD-TV, the broadcast television station based on the UC San Diego campus, and also aired nationally on University of California Television (UCTV), the UC systemwide satellite channel. Funding for the program was made possible by a grant from the National Science Foundation (NSF) through its Divisions of Biological Infrastructure and Elementary, Secondary and Informal Science Education.

Featuring the distinctive voice of narrator Peter Coyote, “In the Shadow of White Mountain” tells the many stories of UC’s White Mountain Research Station (WMRS), a biological field station with both the highest research lab and the highest Internet node in North America. The diversity of research that takes place at WMRS is reflected in the hour-long documentary, which includes segments ranging from the extreme hibernation of White Mountain’s squirrels to what the evolution of the Willow Beetle can tell us about climate change. More information on the program, including exclusive behind the scenes photos, producer’s notes, and links to additional resources, can be found at http://www.ucsd.tv/whitemountain/.

White Mountain Documentary Premieres November 17

(Press Release) LA JOLLA, CA, October 27, 2004–See just what it means to study life on the edge at the University of California’s White Mountain Research Station (WMRS) when In the Shadow of White Mountain makes its television debut Wednesday, November 17 at 8:00PM. The evening’s expedition continues at 9:00PM with programs profiling two sites within the University’s renowned Natural Reserve System (NRS). Viewers who miss the November 17th “White Mountain” premiere can catch repeated airings the following Mondays at 10:00PM and Wednesday at 8:00PM. Each repeat broadcast will be coupled with a new set of NRS profiles, giving viewers an inside look at the work being done to uncover California’s many scientific secrets.

Featuring the distinctive voice of narrator Peter Coyote, “In the Shadow of White Mountain” tells the many stories of this unique resource for science, a biological field station with both the highest research lab and the highest Internet node in North America. WMRS provides unprecedented access to a host of environmental conditions, animals, and vegetation, and is yielding a vital understanding of change, from physiology to climate, from the oldest known living organism, to a short-lived beetle, and what this understanding means for all.

Nearly three years in the making, “In the Shadow of White Mountain” was produced by UCSD-TV, the broadcast television station based on the UC San Diego campus. Funding was made possible by a grant from the National Science Foundation (NSF) as part of the organization’s effort to increase public awareness and appreciation of NSF supported science, such as WMRS’ remote monitoring of field data on a real-time basis using the Internet, and a new molecular biology laboratory used for a variety of biological investigations, including the Sierra Bighorn Sheep Recovery program.

In addition to sharing this scenic research location with the public, the program’s producers hope to convey a deeper understanding of what locations such as White Mountain contribute to science and our lives. “This beautiful place is a unique resource for science, and by extension, for us all,” said UCSD-TV producer/director Rich Wargo. “Environments such as White Mountain play a critical role in our understanding of the changing world in which we live, and I hope our viewers will come away with an appreciation for the work being done here by many fields of science.”

Peter Coyote, Emmy Award-winning narrator, noted actor, award-winning author, and seasoned environmental advocate, provided the voiceover narration for “In the Shadow of White Mountain,” illuminating how the research conducted at the WMRS continues to help us understand what is happening to our changing world, and what that may mean to our future. Of the narration Coyote said, “I love this–this is a fascinating story, it’s very interesting, and it’s challenging.”

The diversity of research that takes place at WMRS is reflected in the hour-long documentary, which includes segments about the endangered Sierra Nevada Bighorn Sheep; the amazing survival of the ancient Bristlecone Pine Tree; the extreme hibernation of White Mountain’s squirrels; the evolution of the Willow Beetle and what it tells us about climate change; and how extreme altitude effects equines, known for their incredible aerobic performance. For more information on “In the Shadow of White Mountain,” including exclusive behind the scenes photos, producer’s notes, and links to additional resources, visit http://www.ucsd.tv/whitemountain/.

With each November airing of “In the Shadow of White Mountain,” UCSD-TV will air additional programs about UC’s NRS sites, as well as two operated by Stanford University. The month’s schedule follows:

Wednesday, November 17

8:00PM In the Shadow of White Mountain

9:00PM Hastings Reserve–Tour this biological field station in the Santa Lucia Mountain range in Monterey County.

9:30PM The Landels-Hill Big Creek Reserve–Situated on the Big Sur Coast, this reserve provides a spectacular location to study nature.

Monday, November 22

10:00PM In the Shadow of White Mountain

11:00PM James Reserve–Located in Southern California’s San Jacinto Mountains, this reserve uses technology to gain insight into the natural world.

11:30PM Sedgwick Reserve–At this site near Santa Barbara, researchers explore the microorganisms that support California’s ecosystems, and work to preserve the disappearing oak woodlands and restore native grasslands.

Wednesday, November 24

8:00PM In the Shadow of White Mountain

9:00PM Coal Oil Point Reserve–This reserve near the UC Santa Barbara campus protects a variety of coastal and estuarine habitats and hosts thousands of visiting migratory birds.

9:30PM Sedgwick Reserve

Monday, November 29

10:00PM In the Shadow of White Mountain

11:00PM Jasper Ridge Preserve–Owned and operated by Stanford University, this Central California site yields studies of the potential effects of global climate change.

11:30PM Hopkins Marine Station–Located on the Monterey Peninsula, this Stanford University-run research and educational facility is the first marine laboratory established on the American Pacific coast (in 1892).

The White Mountain Research Station (WMRS) is a multicampus research unit (MRU) of the University of California Office of Research, with a campus office located at UC San Diego. The station includes a base facility (Owens Valley Lab; elevation 4000′) located in the high desert near the town of Bishop, as well as three facilities in the White Mountains: a montane station at Crooked Creek (elev. 10,200′), an alpine station at Barcroft (elev. 12,500′), and a remote high alpine lab on the summit of White Mountain Peak (elev. 14,250′). The combination of facilities, high elevation, year-round access, and dry air make the station uniquely valuable for scientific study and educational purposes. More information can be found at http://www.wmrs.edu/

The University of California’s Natural Reserve System (NRS) contributes to the understanding and wise management of the Earth and its natural systems by supporting university-level teaching, research, and public service at protected natural areas throughout California. The NRS is the largest university-operated system of natural reserves in the world. Visit http://www.nrs.ucop.edu for more information.