A 2001 Foundation grant supported National Public Radio's Science Friday, the popular radio talk show on science, hosted by Emmy Award-winning Ira Flatow, to create a regular monthly strand focusing on science and the arts. The segments have since become an integral part of the show. Leading scientists and engineers regularly interact with painters, playwrights, screenwriters, musicians, and poets on this very popular show. Since the initial grant, the number of unique visitors to the show's website has increased more than ten-fold, to just under one million. Science Friday has been a pioneer in podcasting - making short, self-contained segments available for download on the web - and has logged 4 million downloads in the last year. This grant renews support for two more years of science and art segments on Science Friday. It includes funds for four remote broadcasts or "road trips" each year during which Ira Flatow visits local institutions and engages with the public before hosting the show live from the site. The possibility of selecting sites where science plays or other artistic activities emphasizing science and technology themes, perhaps supported by other aspects of the Foundation's program in public understanding of science and technology, is being explored. Project Director: Ira Flatow, Host and Executive Producer.

Radio Labs is an innovative science show on public radio. Each hour-long program centers on a core scientific theme (time, stress) and uses rich audio production techniques (musical, documentary) and a range of forms (conversation, theater, story). It is hosted by Robert Krulwich, a very successful science broadcast journalist, formerly of ABC News, and his young co-host Jad Abumarad. In its pilot phase, the show attracted over 400,000 listeners, and praise from science advisors as well as listeners. NPR is allowing reporters from its Science Desk to file stories for the show as well as attend workshops with Krulwich. This grant supports the formal national launch of Radio Labs. It will enable the show to increase national carriage from 50 to 100 stations, and to create branded science features for NPR's magazine shows, All Things Considered and Morning Edition, significantly increasing the audience. Krulwich and Abumarad will also hold select, live community science events. Project Director: Ellen Horne, Senior Producer.

A prior grant to Studio 360, public radio's leading show on the arts, supported the integration of more science and technology coverage into the show's weekly national magazine format. A new half-time producer dedicated to this effort was hired and an advisory group of ten scientists, from an array of disciplines, was assembled and helped Studio 360 choose good subjects and attract well-informed guests. The show's new segments on "Science and Creativity" were strong and well received by audiences. The current grant funds the show for two-years during which period four hour-long shows and 24 feature 6-12 minute segments, all with themes drawn from science and technology, will be produced. Interviews with working scientists and engineers will be included as part of some shows. Project Director: Julie Burstein, Executive Producer, Studio 360.

To research and broadcast half a dozen segments on the technology of mapmaking for National Public Radio. Project Director: Daniel Charles, Author/Correspondent.

A planning grant for a science and technology component of a satirical news program on public radio. Project Director: Alisa Miller, President & CEO.