Vanderbilt is joining forces with a group of other top universities, research organizations and corporate research centers in establishing the ResearchChannel, the nation's first round-the-clock research television and Internet channel.

Other participants include Duke University, Stanford University, Princeton University, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Rice University, University of Alaska-Fairbanks, University of Colorado, University of Maryland, University of Pennsylvania, University of Texas-Austin, University of Virginia, University of Washington, National Institutes of Health, National Institute of Standards and Technology, GTE, IBM Corporation and Sony Electronics, Inc.

The goal of the consortium, which Vanderbilt is joining as a founding member, is to "broaden the access to and appreciation of our individual and collective activities, ideas and opportunities in basic and applied research." Programming includes lectures, seminars, interviews, conferences and fieldwork that feature leading researchers from member institutions and represent work ranging from computer science to health issues to sociology to poetry and artist-in-residence programs. It will not carry long-distance learning courses taken for credit.

"As Internet and broadcast technologies converge, Vanderbilt will have many more ways to convey our research and intellectual activity directly to the public," said Michael J. Schoenfeld, vice chancellor for media relations.

In February, the ResearchChannel started transmitting its programming on broadcast satellite channel 9400 on EchoStar's Dish 500 Network, which has an audience of more than 3.4 million. Webcast versions of the material are also available at the ResearchChannel Web site. The group is exploring other possible distribution channels as well.

"Research institutions now have the opportunity to reach reliable broadcast information, seminars, colloquia, and other important news and events nationally both on-demand and on television," said Amy Philipson, the executive director of the ResearchChannel, who works at the University of Washington. "By using the ResearchChannel to reach viewers, institutions contribute to the development of a national dialogue and an increased public understanding of our research activities and participate in establishing a recognized channel to turn to for research information."

The new organization is an outgrowth of an earlier effort, called the ResearchTV consortium, that was formed in 1996 to assist in the development of technologies to deliver high-quality video, including high definition TV, over the Internet.

Individuals with suggestions for activities related to arts and humanities that should be considered for distribution via the ResearchChannel are asked to contact Emily Pearce, assistant director of the Vanderbilt News Service, at 343-6866. For suggestions related to science and engineering, contact David Salisbury, assistant director of the Vanderbilt Office of Science and Research Communications, at 343-6803.

 

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