FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
GSK AWARDS UNC-TV $400,000 OVER TWO YEARS FOR SCIENCE PROGRAMMING
Fifth Consecutive Grant Will Enable Expansion of SciNC Series & Science Curriculum
RESEARCH TRIANGLE PARK, NC, 9/30/2020—UNC-TV was recently awarded a $400,000 grant from GSK to support continued production of the statewide PBS network’s SciNC series and its science education curriculum work. The grant will be spread over this year and next and is GSK’s fifth consecutive grant to UNC-TV for a total of $1.28 million in support of collaborative efforts to develop the next generation of innovators.
“We are so grateful for this opportunity to expand upon our powerful STEM work,” said UNC-TV Chief of Staff Doug Strasnick. “This generous GSK award will allow us to build on our momentum as well as our efforts to reach all North Carolina’s students with educational science and tech enrichment through our media platforms, particularly for at-home learners—regardless of broadband access.”
UNC-TV’s Science Project encourages North Carolinians to become knowledgeable science citizens by producing and distributing engaging and educational STEM content—including the signature program SciNC—on air, online and in person. The project aims to inspire and educate the next generation of scientists with originally produced, interactive, hands-on free digital lesson plans aligned to elementary and middle school science standards and available through UNC-TV website and PBS Learning Media. Grounded in research and partnerships, it showcases racial-, gender-, age- and culturally-diverse scientists and educators making contributions that increase scientific knowledge and which have practical applications and impact.
“GSK is proud to support UNC-TV’s engaging science programming to help students across North Carolina learn critical scientific concepts and make connections to their day-to-day lives,” said Becki Lynch, Director of US Community Partnerships at GSK. “We believe in increasing high-quality, equitable STEM education in communities where we live and work through partnerships with local nonprofits like UNC-TV.”
The work that GSK has supported, particularly UNC-TV Science Instructional Designer Paula Edelson’s curriculum development, has received accolades and awards:
- The UNC-TV SciNC team has produced more than 100 interactive, curriculum-aligned educational components—including animations, 5E plans and inquiry-based blended lessons for use in the classroom, as well as in less formal educational settings.
- UNC-TV Science’s student-focused educational content has won two regional Emmy awards, and was selected as examples of excellence by PBS LearningMedia, which has advertised them nationally, and invited Edelson to present the lessons in national webinars. The resources are all available on PBS LearningMedia.
About GSK
GSK is a science-led global healthcare company with a special purpose: to help people do more, feel better, live longer. For further information please visit. To learn more, visit gsk.com.
About UNC-TV Public Media North Carolina
As North Carolina’s statewide PBS network serving the country’s third-largest public media market, UNC-TV educates, informs, entertains and inspires its statewide audience on-air, online and in-person. Through its unique partnership of public investment and private support, the statewide network includes in-person engagement, digital-first social and online content delivery, and four over-the-air channels—UNC-TV PBS & More, the North Carolina Channel, Rootle 24/7 PBS Kids and the Explorer Channel. Its transformational events and content spark curiosity and wonder for all North Carolinians. Additionally, UNC-TV serves as the backbone for North Carolina’s state’s emergency services. Visit unctv.org and join the conversation at facebook.com/publicmediaNC,instagram.com/publicmediaNC and @publicmediaNC on Twitter.
CONTACT Rebekah Radisch, UNC-TV: rradisch@unctv.org 919-549-7177
