PBS President and CEO Paula A. Kerger announced at the PBS portion of the Television Critics Association Press Tour that PBS, with National Geographic as its international broadcast partner, has commissioned a new six-part Science series. GENIUS BY STEPHEN HAWKING, from production company Bigger Bang, will be presented and narrated by renowned theoretical physicist Prof. Stephen Hawking. In each episode, a different group of ordinary people will be challenged to think like the greatest scientific minds in history in order to solve some of humanity's most enduring questions. GENIUS will air on PBS in the U.S. in 2016, and internationally on National Geographic Channel.
"Do you need to be a genius to answer the big questions?" said Prof. Stephen Hawking. "I'm very pleased to be back on the air for
PBS and National Geographic International with GENIUS - a project that furthers my lifelong aim to bring
Science to the public. It's a fun show that tries to find out if ordinary people are smart enough to think like the greatest minds who ever lived. Being an optimist, I think they will."
"With its premise of proving that 'ordinary' people can grasp how history's greatest scientific discoveries came about, GENIUS is directly aligned with what we hope to achieve through all of our programming - inspiring audiences to explore the world around them," said Beth Hoppe, Chief Programming Executive and General Manager, General Audience Programming, PBS.
Through the use of large-scale experiments and remarkable demonstrations, the program decodes the mysteries of evolutionary biology, astrophysics and quantum mechanics, solving questions like "Why am I here?," "Are we alone?" and "Can we travel through time?" Each episode features three people with curious minds who must use their own intellect to learn what humanity's most notable thinkers have discovered about the greatest scientific mysteries over the centuries. GENIUS takes its participants (and viewers at home) back in time - to ancient Greece, where Eratosthenes calculated the Earth's circumference - and to more recent history and such thinkers as Edward Hubble, who
UNCOVERED and established the distances between our planet and the vast galaxies throughout the universe.
"The series puts complex scientific concepts into easily digestible layman's terms," said Hamish Mykura, Executive Vice President of Programming and Development for National Geographic Channel. "The experiments are spectacular and illustrate some of the most important ideas from some of the greatest minds in history in highly engaging ways. My hope is that Stephen Hawking and this series encourage more minds around the globe to engage with the scientific challenges of tomorrow."
"Good television is about great storytelling," added Iain Riddick and Ben Bowie, founders of Bigger Bang, "and
Science is a source for some of the most awe-inspiring, imaginative stories ever conceived. We're delighted to work with Prof. Hawking again, and also to have such strong and authentic partners on board with
PBS and National Geographic Channels International. GENIUS will be uniquely thought-provoking entertainment, revisiting some of history's notable scientific breakthroughs through the eyes of everyday people, and we are thrilled to bring the series to television audiences around the world in 2016."
In each of six episodes of GENIUS BY STEPHEN HAWKING, Prof. Hawking presents three ordinary people with a series of physical and mental challenges to show them how to think like a genius. Episode descriptions are listed below:
EPISODE 1: "Where Are We?"
Join renowned scientist Stephen Hawking as he challenges three ordinary people to think like a genius. Can they measure the earth, the solar system and even the universe - and find our true place in the cosmos?
EPISODE 2: "What Are We?"
Join Stephen Hawking as he challenges three ordinary people to find out what we really are. Self-assembling machines, light-up bacteria and the world's first physical demonstration of evolution in action conspire to revolutionize their view of life.
EPISODE 3: "Are We Alone?"
Join Professor Stephen Hawking as he challenges three ordinary people to work out the likelihood of alien life out there in the universe. See why the team has their minds blown in a way they were never expecting.
EPISODE 4: "Why Are We Here?"
Join Stephen Hawking as he sets three ordinary people a truly mind-bending challenge: Can they work out why they exist at all? Hawking takes them down a rabbit hole of profound realizations, helping them think like philosophers as much as scientists.
EPISODE 5: "Where Did Universe Come From?"
Join Stephen Hawking as he challenges three ordinary people to work out where the universe came from. Hawking leads the trio on an extraordinary journey of discovery featuring racing cars, ice-skaters, balloons and running tracks.
EPISODE 6: "Can I Travel In Time?"
Join Stephen Hawking as he challenges three ordinary people to determine if time travel is possible. The fascinating journey of discovery features DeLoreans, clocks, a giant black hole and a large swath of New York City.
GENIUS BY STEPHEN HAWKING is produced by Bigger Bang, which also produced the
Science films "Hubble's Cosmic Journey" and "Mission Pluto" for
PBS and National Geographic Channels International. Bigger Bang's Ben Bowie and Iain Riddick serve as the series' executive producers.
About Stephen Hawking Prof. Hawking is one of the world's leading physicists and cosmologists. He is an English theoretical physicist, cosmologist, author and Director of Research at the Centre for Theoretical Cosmology within the University of Cambridge. His scientific works include a collaboration with Roger Penrose on gravitational singularity theorems in the
FRAMEWORK of general relativity, and the theoretical prediction that black holes emit radiation, often called Hawking radiation. Hawking was the first to set forth a theory of cosmology explained by a union of the general theory of relativity and quantum mechanics. He is a vigorous supporter of the many-worlds interpretation of quantum mechanics. He is an Honorary Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts, a lifetime member of the Pontifical Academy of Sciences and a recipient of the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the highest civilian award in the United States. Hawking was the Lucasian Professor of Mathematics at the University of Cambridge between 1979 and 2009 and has achieved commercial success with works of popular
Science in which he discusses his own theories and cosmology in general; his book A Brief History of Time appeared on the British Sunday Times best-seller list for a record-breaking 237 weeks.
About Bigger Bang Bigger Bang TV was founded by Ben Bowie and Iain Riddick to produce high-end specialist factual programming with
UNCOMPROMISING quality. The company, which was named by Prof. Stephen Hawking, is all about great ideas, brilliantly realized, with a focus on science, technology, engineering, history and space exploration. Bowie and Riddick have dozens of hours of blue chip series and specials, as well as three Emmy nominations and numerous other awards, between them. In the last 10 years, they have delivered more than eight hours of exclusive programming with Prof. Hawking, a further four hours of space exploration films featuring missions such as Rosetta, Comet ISON, the Hubble Space Telescope and the Apollo moon landings, five NOVAs, two series on Nazi History for NGCI, amid numerous other series and fast turnaround documentaries. www.biggerbang.tv
About National Geographic Channels The National Geographic Channels (The Channels) form the television and production arm of National Geographic Partners, a joint venture between 21st Century
FOX and the National Geographic Society. As a global leader in premium science, adventure and exploration programming, the Channels include:
National Geographic Channel (NGC), Nat Geo WILD, Nat Geo People and Nat Geo MUNDO. Additionally, the Channels also run the in-house television production unit, National Geographic Studios. The Channels contribute to the National Geographic Society's commitment to exploration, conservation and education with entertaining, innovative programming from A-level talent around the world, and with profits that help support the society's mission. Globally, NGC is available in more than 440 million homes in 171 countries and 45 languages, and
NAT GEO WILD is available in 131 countries and 38 languages. National Geographic Partners is also a leader in social media, with a fan base of 250 million people across all of its social pages. NGC contributes more than 55 million social media fans globally on Facebook alone. For more information, visit www.natgeotv.com and www.natgeowild.com.
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