''Earth & Sky'' was a daily radio series that presented information about
science
Science is a systematic endeavor that builds and organizes knowledge in the form of testable explanations and predictions about the universe.
Science may be as old as the human species, and some of the earliest archeological evidence for ...
and
nature
Nature, in the broadest sense, is the physics, physical world or universe. "Nature" can refer to the phenomenon, phenomena of the physical world, and also to life in general. The study of nature is a large, if not the only, part of science. ...
. It began broadcasting in 1991 and ceased operations in 2013. ''EarthSky'' is the ongoing website, serving 21 million users in 2019, according to Google Analytics.
''Earth & Sky'' was the creation of producers
Deborah Byrd
Deborah Byrd (born March 1, 1951 in San Antonio, Texas) is an American science journalist. She is editor-in-chief of EarthSky, which presents science news and night sky information. The website served more than 21 million users in 2019, according t ...
and Joel Block, who were also the hosts. Byrd had previously created the radio program ''
Star Date'' that began broadcasting in the US in 1978, and Block was ''Star Dates original host.
''Earth & Sky'' presented 60- and 90-second radio spots (called "modules") on a wide variety of scientific topics, communicating through terrestrial
radio
Radio is the technology of signaling and communicating using radio waves. Radio waves are electromagnetic waves of frequency between 30 hertz (Hz) and 300 gigahertz (GHz). They are generated by an electronic device called a transmit ...
as well as
satellite radio
Satellite radio is defined by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU)'s ITU Radio Regulations (RR) as a ''broadcasting-satellite service''. The satellite's signals are broadcast nationwide, across a much wider geographical area than ter ...
and
internet radio
Online radio (also web radio, net radio, streaming radio, e-radio, IP radio, Internet radio) is a digital audio service transmitted via the Internet. Broadcasting on the Internet is usually referred to as webcasting since it is not transmitted ...
. ''Earth & Sky'' was aired one or more times daily on more than 1,000
commercial
Commercial may refer to:
* a dose of advertising conveyed through media (such as - for example - radio or television)
** Radio advertisement
** Television advertisement
* (adjective for:) commerce, a system of voluntary exchange of products and s ...
,
NPR
National Public Radio (NPR, stylized in all lowercase) is an American privately and state funded nonprofit media organization headquartered in Washington, D.C., with its NPR West headquarters in Culver City, California. It differs from other ...
, and other
public radio
Public broadcasting involves radio, television and other electronic media outlets whose primary mission is public service. Public broadcasters receive funding from diverse sources including license fees, individual contributions, public financing ...
stations, 80 affiliate stations for the sight-impaired, and across 35 channels on both
XM and
Sirius
Sirius is the list of brightest stars, brightest star in the night sky. Its name is derived from the Ancient Greek language, Greek word , or , meaning 'glowing' or 'scorching'. The star is designated α Canis Majoris, Latinisation ...
satellite radio in the United States. Abroad, the programming iwas heard on American Forces Radio,
Voice of America
Voice of America (VOA or VoA) is the state-owned news network and international radio broadcaster of the United States of America. It is the largest and oldest U.S.-funded international broadcaster. VOA produces digital, TV, and radio content ...
Radio,
World Radio Network, and others.
The information on ''Earth & Sky'' came directly from scientists. The
journalist
A journalist is an individual that collects/gathers information in form of text, audio, or pictures, processes them into a news-worthy form, and disseminates it to the public. The act or process mainly done by the journalist is called journalism ...
s who produced the ''Earth & Sky'' radio program spoke to several scientists each day, dozens each week and hundreds each year.
More than 500 scientists had joined ''Earth & Sky'' as volunteer advisers. ''Earth & Sky'' science advisers suggested content, gave feedback, recommended other experts, and reviewed scripts for accuracy before they were recorded for broadcast.
''Earth & Sky'' featured many fields of science. In 2006, it focused was on
nanotechnology
Nanotechnology, also shortened to nanotech, is the use of matter on an atomic, molecular, and supramolecular scale for industrial purposes. The earliest, widespread description of nanotechnology referred to the particular technological goal o ...
,
women in science
The presence of women in science spans the earliest times of the history of science wherein they have made significant contributions. Historians with an interest in gender and science have researched the scientific endeavors and accomplishments ...
,
observing the Earth,
astrophysics
Astrophysics is a science that employs the methods and principles of physics and chemistry in the study of astronomical objects and phenomena. As one of the founders of the discipline said, Astrophysics "seeks to ascertain the nature of the h ...
and
space
Space is the boundless three-dimensional extent in which objects and events have relative position and direction. In classical physics, physical space is often conceived in three linear dimensions, although modern physicists usually consider ...
, and the human world.
The final episode of ''Earth & Sky'' was broadcast on June 2, 2013. President and co-founder Deborah Byrd said that although funding options existed to continue the radio program, a decision was made to stop producing the radio show in order to concentrate on the EarthSky.org website and social media.
Further reading
*Flagg, B. N., Can 90 seconds of science make a difference. Informal Learning Review, The, No. 75, November - December 2005 pp. 2, 22
*Multimedia Research. "Earth & Sky Summative Evaluation, Study 2." August 2005.
*Act 1 Systems. "Earth & Sky, Inc.: Arbitron DMA Area." Spring 2003.
*Multimedia Research. "Earth & Sky Summative Evaluation, Study 1." June 2002.
*"With dreams beyond 'Earth & Sky,' show's future is bright." Austin American Statesman. 10 January 2002.
*"'Earth & Sky' is rising star among radio science shows." Austin American Statesman. 9 November 1992.
*"AGU Supports New Earth Science Radio Program." Earth in Space 4 (2): p. 15 (1991).
*"Staff disintegrates at stellar radio program." Current: The Public Telecommunications Newspaper, Vol. X (13): (1991).
References
External links
''Earth & Sky'' website
{{DEFAULTSORT:Earth and Sky
American talk radio programs
Science education
Science radio programmes
1991 radio programme debuts
Science and technology in the United States
2013 radio programme endings