Ira Flatow
Encyclopedia
Ira Flatow (ˈaɪrə ˈfleɪtoʊ; born March 9, 1949) is a radio
and television
journalist and author who hosts National Public Radio's popular Science Friday. He is probably best known on TV for hosting Newton's Apple
, a television science program for children and their families.
program was in his high school. He was a cameraman for the daily news program at H. Frank Carey High School in Franklin Square, New York. In 1967, however, Flatow entered college
to pursue an engineering
degree at the State University of New York at Buffalo, where he received his bachelor's degree
in 1971 in civil engineering. In 1969, he began working in radio
at WBFO
, in Buffalo, New York
and his first news experience was covering antiwar speeches, demonstrations and campus riot
s at SUNY Buffalo in 1970. Flatow's first science stories were created in 1970 during the first Earth Day
. In 1971, he became the news director of WBFO
.
who was his former employer at WBFO in Buffalo and the first NPR program director and creator of the NPR flagship program "All Things Considered...". In Washington he covered the environment
, health
and medicine
news, and technology
stories. While at NPR, Flatow helped found the NPR science unit and served on the production team for NPR's first remote broadcast: the UN Conference On the Human Environment in Stockholm.
As producer and science correspondent from 1971 to 1986, Flatow found himself reporting from the Kennedy Space Center, Three Mile Island, Antarctica and the South Pole. A photograph of Flatow "interviewing" penguins in Antarctica in 1979 became an icon of his career. In another memorable event, Flatow took former All Things Considered host Susan Stamberg into a closet to crunch Wint-O-Green Lifesavers, proving they spark in the dark.
In 1991 he began to host the Friday edition of Talk of the Nation which became known as Science Friday. Flatow pioneered NPR's entry into the digital world becoming the first radio program to be nationally "broadcast" on the Internet in 1993 and the first to be podcast. Science Friday is also the home for the annual radio broadcast of the Ig Nobel Prize
awards, heard each Friday following Thanksgiving.
, which originated at KTCA in St. Paul, Minnesota
.
In 1991, he wrote and reported science and technology for CBS News' "CBS This Morning." Flatow has discussed the latest cutting edge science stories on a variety of programs, including the Cablevision program Maximum Science . He is also host of the four-part PBS series Big Ideas produced by WNET in New York. His numerous TV credits include science reporter Westinghouse, and cable's CNBC. He wrote, produced and hosted "Transistorized!", an hour-long documentary about the history of the transistor
, which aired on PBS. He has talked science on many TV talk shows including Merv Griffin, Today, Charlie Rose, and Oprah.
Flatow is founder and president of the Science Friday Initiative (previously TalkingScience) a non-profit company dedicated to creating radio, TV, and Internet projects that make science "user friendly."
In 2009, Flatow had a cameo appearance as himself in The Vengeance Formulation in the CBS
sitcom The Big Bang Theory
. In the episode, Flatow interviews Sheldon Cooper
(Jim Parsons
) on his research on magnetic monopole
s.
Radio
Radio is the transmission of signals through free space by modulation of electromagnetic waves with frequencies below those of visible light. Electromagnetic radiation travels by means of oscillating electromagnetic fields that pass through the air and the vacuum of space...
and television
Television
Television is a telecommunication medium for transmitting and receiving moving images that can be monochrome or colored, with accompanying sound...
journalist and author who hosts National Public Radio's popular Science Friday. He is probably best known on TV for hosting Newton's Apple
Newton's Apple
Newton's Apple is an educational television program distributed to PBS stations in the United States that ran for fifteen seasons from 1983 to 1998. Targeted at younger viewers, it was highly regarded...
, a television science program for children and their families.
Biography
Flatow was born into a Jewish family in Brooklyn, New York, where his first experience with a television newsNews
News is the communication of selected information on current events which is presented by print, broadcast, Internet, or word of mouth to a third party or mass audience.- Etymology :...
program was in his high school. He was a cameraman for the daily news program at H. Frank Carey High School in Franklin Square, New York. In 1967, however, Flatow entered college
College
A college is an educational institution or a constituent part of an educational institution. Usage varies in English-speaking nations...
to pursue an engineering
Engineering
Engineering is the discipline, art, skill and profession of acquiring and applying scientific, mathematical, economic, social, and practical knowledge, in order to design and build structures, machines, devices, systems, materials and processes that safely realize improvements to the lives of...
degree at the State University of New York at Buffalo, where he received his bachelor's degree
Bachelor's degree
A bachelor's degree is usually an academic degree awarded for an undergraduate course or major that generally lasts for three or four years, but can range anywhere from two to six years depending on the region of the world...
in 1971 in civil engineering. In 1969, he began working in radio
Radio
Radio is the transmission of signals through free space by modulation of electromagnetic waves with frequencies below those of visible light. Electromagnetic radiation travels by means of oscillating electromagnetic fields that pass through the air and the vacuum of space...
at WBFO
WBFO
WBFO, broadcast on 88.7 FM, is the largest NPR member station for Buffalo, New York. It is broadcast from the South campus of the University at Buffalo....
, in Buffalo, New York
Buffalo, New York
Buffalo is the second most populous city in the state of New York, after New York City. Located in Western New York on the eastern shores of Lake Erie and at the head of the Niagara River across from Fort Erie, Ontario, Buffalo is the seat of Erie County and the principal city of the...
and his first news experience was covering antiwar speeches, demonstrations and campus riot
Riot
A riot is a form of civil disorder characterized often by what is thought of as disorganized groups lashing out in a sudden and intense rash of violence against authority, property or people. While individuals may attempt to lead or control a riot, riots are thought to be typically chaotic and...
s at SUNY Buffalo in 1970. Flatow's first science stories were created in 1970 during the first Earth Day
Earth Day
Earth Day is a day that is intended to inspire awareness and appreciation for the Earth's natural environment. The name and concept of Earth Day was allegedly pioneered by John McConnell in 1969 at a UNESCO Conference in San Francisco. The first Proclamation of Earth Day was by San Francisco, the...
. In 1971, he became the news director of WBFO
WBFO
WBFO, broadcast on 88.7 FM, is the largest NPR member station for Buffalo, New York. It is broadcast from the South campus of the University at Buffalo....
.
Years at NPR
Flatow was hired by the newly-formed National Public Radio in Washington, DC in 1971 by Bill SiemeringBill Siemering
William "Bill" Siemering was the first Director of Programming of National Public Radio, and the recipient of a MacArthur Foundation genius grant. He invented the first signature program of public radio, All Things Considered. This followed his authorship of the new public network's first statement...
who was his former employer at WBFO in Buffalo and the first NPR program director and creator of the NPR flagship program "All Things Considered...". In Washington he covered the environment
Natural environment
The natural environment encompasses all living and non-living things occurring naturally on Earth or some region thereof. It is an environment that encompasses the interaction of all living species....
, health
Health
Health is the level of functional or metabolic efficiency of a living being. In humans, it is the general condition of a person's mind, body and spirit, usually meaning to be free from illness, injury or pain...
and medicine
Medicine
Medicine is the science and art of healing. It encompasses a variety of health care practices evolved to maintain and restore health by the prevention and treatment of illness....
news, and technology
Technology
Technology is the making, usage, and knowledge of tools, machines, techniques, crafts, systems or methods of organization in order to solve a problem or perform a specific function. It can also refer to the collection of such tools, machinery, and procedures. The word technology comes ;...
stories. While at NPR, Flatow helped found the NPR science unit and served on the production team for NPR's first remote broadcast: the UN Conference On the Human Environment in Stockholm.
As producer and science correspondent from 1971 to 1986, Flatow found himself reporting from the Kennedy Space Center, Three Mile Island, Antarctica and the South Pole. A photograph of Flatow "interviewing" penguins in Antarctica in 1979 became an icon of his career. In another memorable event, Flatow took former All Things Considered host Susan Stamberg into a closet to crunch Wint-O-Green Lifesavers, proving they spark in the dark.
In 1991 he began to host the Friday edition of Talk of the Nation which became known as Science Friday. Flatow pioneered NPR's entry into the digital world becoming the first radio program to be nationally "broadcast" on the Internet in 1993 and the first to be podcast. Science Friday is also the home for the annual radio broadcast of the Ig Nobel Prize
Ig Nobel Prize
The Ig Nobel Prizes are an American parody of the Nobel Prizes and are given each year in early October for ten unusual or trivial achievements in scientific research. The stated aim of the prizes is to "first make people laugh, and then make them think"...
awards, heard each Friday following Thanksgiving.
Television
From 1982 through 1987 he hosted the Emmy Award PBS science program Newton's AppleNewton's Apple
Newton's Apple is an educational television program distributed to PBS stations in the United States that ran for fifteen seasons from 1983 to 1998. Targeted at younger viewers, it was highly regarded...
, which originated at KTCA in St. Paul, Minnesota
Minnesota
Minnesota is a U.S. state located in the Midwestern United States. The twelfth largest state of the U.S., it is the twenty-first most populous, with 5.3 million residents. Minnesota was carved out of the eastern half of the Minnesota Territory and admitted to the Union as the thirty-second state...
.
In 1991, he wrote and reported science and technology for CBS News' "CBS This Morning." Flatow has discussed the latest cutting edge science stories on a variety of programs, including the Cablevision program Maximum Science . He is also host of the four-part PBS series Big Ideas produced by WNET in New York. His numerous TV credits include science reporter Westinghouse, and cable's CNBC. He wrote, produced and hosted "Transistorized!", an hour-long documentary about the history of the transistor
Transistor
A transistor is a semiconductor device used to amplify and switch electronic signals and power. It is composed of a semiconductor material with at least three terminals for connection to an external circuit. A voltage or current applied to one pair of the transistor's terminals changes the current...
, which aired on PBS. He has talked science on many TV talk shows including Merv Griffin, Today, Charlie Rose, and Oprah.
Flatow is founder and president of the Science Friday Initiative (previously TalkingScience) a non-profit company dedicated to creating radio, TV, and Internet projects that make science "user friendly."
In 2009, Flatow had a cameo appearance as himself in The Vengeance Formulation in the CBS
CBS
CBS Broadcasting Inc. is a major US commercial broadcasting television network, which started as a radio network. The name is derived from the initials of the network's former name, Columbia Broadcasting System. The network is sometimes referred to as the "Eye Network" in reference to the shape of...
sitcom The Big Bang Theory
The Big Bang Theory
The Big Bang Theory is an American sitcom created by Chuck Lorre and Bill Prady, both of whom serve as executive producers on the show, along with Steven Molaro. All three also serve as head writers...
. In the episode, Flatow interviews Sheldon Cooper
Sheldon Cooper
Sheldon Lee Cooper, B.S., M.S., M.A., Ph.D., Sc.D. is a fictional character from Texas on the CBS television series The Big Bang Theory, portrayed by actor Jim Parsons...
(Jim Parsons
Jim Parsons
James Joseph "Jim" Parsons is an American television and film actor. He is best known for playing Sheldon Cooper on the CBS sitcom The Big Bang Theory, with his performance often cited as a significant reason for the program's success...
) on his research on magnetic monopole
Magnetic monopole
A magnetic monopole is a hypothetical particle in particle physics that is a magnet with only one magnetic pole . In more technical terms, a magnetic monopole would have a net "magnetic charge". Modern interest in the concept stems from particle theories, notably the grand unified and superstring...
s.
Public speaking
Public speaking and moderating discussions are a regular part of his schedule. As a host, he has emceed many public events, including the 100th Anniversary Celebration of the Science Museum of Minnesota (2007). He has spoken at Rockefeller University, the World Economic Forum, Sun Microsystems, Hewlett Packard, Calvin Academy, Caltech, MIT, Google, Harvard, University of Wisconsin, OSHU, National Inventors Hall of Fame, Kentucky Author Forum, and TEDxGotham. In 2004, Ira was resident scholar at Woods Hole Oceanographic Institute.Honors and awards
- National Association of Science WritersNational Association of Science WritersThe National Association of Science Writers was created in 1934 by a dozen science journalists and reporters in New York City. The aim of the organization was to improve the craft of science journalism and to promote good science reportage....
member - AAAS-Westinghouse Science Journalism Awards - Radio (1983)
- AAAS-Westinghouse Science Journalism Awards - Television (1983)
- Nierenberg PrizeNierenberg PrizeThe Nierenberg Prize for Science in the Public Interest is given annually by the Scripps Institution of Oceanography. It was created through a gift of the family to honor the memory of William Nierenberg...
for Science in the Public Interest (2010)