Maine PBS hit show ‘Quest’ to begin new season

PORTLAND – Maine’s PBS science and nature show “Quest: Investigating Our World” is a hit for the public TV network and a model for other educational broadcasters.

The show, which begins its new season on Jan. 20 and is hosted by Maine author and fisherman Linda Greenlaw, is unique for several reasons. It’s Maine PBS’ first regional show, aired in New Hampshire and Vermont as well as in Maine.

The episodes are shaped with the help of a panel of science advisers, people who work in biology, forestry and other related fields across the region. That includes the Vermont Institute of Natural Science, the University of Maine School of Marine Resources, the Island Institute and Dartmouth College.

It’s the first regional public television show to be funded by the National Science Foundation, which has supported several national PBS shows, such as “Nova” and “Zoom.”

Maine PBS’ Web site features school-ready lesson plans for “Quest” developed by teachers from the Maine Mathematics and Science Alliance.

“One of the things that’s been really successful is the downloading of materials off the Web site by educators and home school students, to use in lesson plans,” said Barbara Noyes Pulling, the show’s senior producer. “During the first few months of last season, there were 4,500 files downloaded.”

The new season will feature six episodes focusing on a wide range of topics, including climate change and some of the ways it is affecting people in northern New England; the biomechanics of sport; a scientific look at spring in the region; an investigation of the Gulf of Maine, and inventors of northern New England.

The series began as a Maine-only venture in the 1990s, but went regional last year with the support of the National Science Foundation grant.

The show is produced by Maine PBS, but the public TV networks in New Hampshire and Vermont are partners, allowing their camera crews to be used and offering help in advertising and promotion.

On the Net: www.mainepbs.org.