MPT Press Release

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: Colleen Wright
August 24, 2001 Marketing Communications Account Executive
Telephone: (410) 581-4293
E-mail: colleenwright@mpt.org
MPT. This is bigger than television.

PBS blockbuster series, Evolution, comes to MPT
Multi-part series begins September 24

OWINGS MILLS, MD: Since naturalist Charles Darwin altered the scientific landscape 142 years ago — proposing that all life evolved from a single organism over hundreds of millions of years — scholars, theologians and scientists have studied and debated his theory of evolution by natural selection. Now it's the general public's turn.
Evolution airs on Maryland Public Television (MPT) Monday-Thursday, September 24-27, at 8:00 p.m. in two-hour segments.
The series presents evolution from the perspective of science journalism, bringing to life Darwin's simple theory that forms the bedrock of all biology. Evolution remains essential to understanding the nature of life on the planet, especially in an age when environmental, agricultural and health issues dominate world headlines.
In Victorian England, the notion of evolution threatened Darwin's family,
his place in society, his standing in the scientific community and the prevailing world view of the Anglican Church. The two-hour premiere, "Darwin's Dangerous Idea," is a blend of drama and documentary that examines Darwin's personal torment and the ongoing influence of evolutionary theory in our lives today. The succeeding episodes are "Great Transformations," "Extinction!," "The Evolutionary Arms Race," "Why Sex?," "The Mind's Big Bang" and "What About God?"
In keeping with public television's commitment to inform, inspire and entertain through multimedia resources, one of Evolution's primary goals is to enhance science literacy and heighten viewers' understanding and appreciation of the natural world.
" I think it's the feeling of evolution that makes us realize that we are part of the whole wonderful, amazing array of the natural world," says project advisor and spokesman Dr. Jane Goodall. "To feel a part of that, which we are, if we truly understand Darwin's theory that this all began with one little tiny organism millions and millions of years ago, then we can feel joy in our relationship with nature. We're not apart from it, it's part of us and
we're part of it, and that's why it's so desperate to try and save what we can before it's too late, for our grandchildren, for their grandchildren."
Darwin's Dangerous Idea (Sept. 24): Why does Charles Darwin's "dangerous idea" matter more today than ever, and how does it explain the past and predict the future of life on Earth? The first show interweaves the drama of Darwin's life with current documentary sequences, introducing key concepts of evolution.
Great Transformations (Sept. 25): What underlies the incredible diversity of life on Earth? How have complex life forms evolved? The journey from water to land, the return of land mammals to the sea and the emergence of humans all suggest that creatures past and present are members of a single tree of life.
Extinction! (Sept. 25): Five mass extinctions have occurred over the life of the planet. Are humans causing the next mass extinction? And what does evolutionary theory predict for the world we will leave to our descendants?
The Evolutionary Arms Race (Sept. 26): "Survival of the fittest" raw competition or intense cooperation? Both are essential. Interactions between species are among the most powerful evolutionary forces on Earth, and understanding them may be a key to our own survival.
Why Sex? (Sept. 26): In evolutionary terms, sex is more important than life itself. Sex fuels evolutionary change by adding variation to the gene pool. The urge to pass on genes has shaped our own lives — perhaps much of human culture is a result of our sexual drives.

The Mind's Big Bang (Sept. 27): Fifty thousand years ago, something happened — the modern human mind emerged, triggering a creative, technological and social explosion. What forces contributed to that breakthrough? Where might our power of mind ultimately lead?
What About God? (Sept. 27): Of all species, humans alone attempt to explain who we are and how we came to be. This final episode explores the struggle between science and religion. Through the personal stories of students and teachers, it offers the view that they are compatible.
The companion book, Parasite Rex by acclaimed science writer Carl Zimmer, is published by HarperCollins.
Underwriters: Public Television Viewers and PBS. Co-producers: WGBH/NOVA Science Unit and Clear Blue Sky Productions. Presenter: WGBH Boston. Executive producer: Richard Hutton.
Maryland Public Television is a not-for-profit, state-licensed public television station which serves the citizens and communities of Maryland and beyond through a variety of broadcast and nonbroadcast activities.
MPT is a national leader in the production of broadcast programming for public television. MPT's local/regional television credits include public affairs, original performance, documentary, and entertainment programs for the citizens of Maryland.
Beyond broadcast, MPT creates instructional videos, develops training, and builds Internet sites that serve tens of thousands of students, teachers, and child-care providers annually. MPT outreach activities, especially relating to arts, culture, and history, take place in all areas of the state to further fulfill MPT's mission to engage, enlighten, and entertain.
For more information on this and other MPT on-air and off-air programs, go to mpt.org

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