Feb 21 2009
Since it first aired on Texas PBS stations two years ago, the documentary series State of Tomorrow™, produced by the University of Texas Foundation and Alpheus Media has garnered five National Association of Television Arts and Sciences Lone Star EMMY® awards and has been distributed with a special curriculum to every public school district in the state. Now, a greatly expanded Web site, www.stateoftomorrow.com, extends the reach of the series in showcasing the innovative work being done by public higher education to address challenges facing Texans.
The State of Tomorrow series examines some of the most exciting work being done by researchers and academics in public higher education to address major challenges facing society. Through personal stories of cancer patients, hurricane survivors, farmers and teachers, and interviews with researchers, scientists, and doctors, State of Tomorrow depicts global issues and solutions on a human scale. Every topic is illuminated through thought-provoking interviews and arresting visuals.
Now, the entire series can be viewed online at www.stateoftomorrow.com. More than 30 video segments address topics such as public health, homeland security, energy policy, economic development and education, biosafety, nanotechnology, and proton therapy. The Web site includes new video interviews with UT System institution faculty on groundbreaking research, and a new blog highlighting features available on the site and updates on research conducted on UT System campuses. Teachers using the State of Tomorrow documentary series in their classrooms can also download curriculum from the new Web site.
Also beginning this month, State of Tomorrow is airing again in its entirety on many Texas PBS stations. Presented by Austin PBS affiliate station KLRU, the series will air in Austin, San Antonio, Houston, Killeen, Harlingen, El Paso, Lubbock and Waco. Times vary; the schedules may be found at www.stateoftomorrow.com.
Beginning this week, a statewide public awareness initiative featuring UT System researchers spotlighted in State of Tomorrow launches in Austin, Houston, Dallas and San Antonio. H-E-B is the title sponsor for the initiative, which is made possible entirely through private funding. Television, newspaper and Internet spots communicate the message that public higher education benefits everyone, whether or not they ever physically visit a campus or health institution.
“Public higher education plays a critical role in creating solutions to today’s major challenges, and State of Tomorrow showcases how Texas’ public universities and health institutions provide solutions and contribute to the quality of life for all people,” said Randa S. Safady, UT System vice chancellor for external relations and executive producer of the series. “Through the documentary series, and now through the new Web site, people can learn about the truly exciting work being done in public higher education and how everyone benefits from that work.”
Since it first aired in 2007, the State of Tomorrow documentary series has been recognized with a number of prestigious awards. The series was nominated for eight Lone Star Emmy awards, and received two in 2007 and three in 2008. State of Tomorrow has been recognized with a national award from the American Academy of Nurses, and the Texas Library Association honored the series with its Branding Iron award for broadcast coverage.
Last year, with a grant from the Meadows Foundation and in partnership with the Texas Library Association, the series was distributed to every public school district in the state. The boxed sets included a curriculum guide so that the series could be incorporated into lesson plans at secondary schools in each of the state’s 1,040-plus public school districts.
The University of Texas System is one of the nation’s largest higher education systems, with nine academic campuses and six health institutions. The UT System has an annual operating budget of $11.5 billion (FY 2009) including $2.5 billion in sponsored programs funded by federal, state, local and private sources. Student enrollment exceeded 194,000 in the 2007 academic year. The UT System confers more than one-third of the state's undergraduate degrees and educates nearly three-fourths of the state's health care professionals annually. With more than 81,000 employees, the UT System is one of the largest employers in the state.