Scientastic!

Scientastic! is an elementary to middle school age family television show that explores science, health, and social issues through the eyes of today's youth. The show was created by John A. Pollock, Leo Eaton, and Mike Erskine-Kellie. The show's format blends live-action and animation and is a hybrid of mystery and reality genres, incorporating a fictional plot with interviews from actual doctors and scientists in and around Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, where the show is filmed. To date, two episodes have been released. The episode “Are You Sleeping?” was the recipient of two Emmy Awards in 2015.

Scientastic! is an elementary to middle school age family television show that explores science, health, and social issues through the eyes of today's youth. The show was created by John A. Pollock, Leo Eaton, and Mike Erskine-Kellie. The show's format blends live-action and animation and is a hybrid of mystery and reality genres, incorporating a fictional plot with interviews from actual doctors and scientists in and around Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, where the show is filmed. To date, two episodes have been released. The episode “Are You Sleeping?” was the recipient of two Emmy Awards in 2015. ==Concept== The show's concept originated from Duquesne University biology professor John A. Pollock, with the goal of improving science literacy among school students ages 8 to 13 years old. Pollock partnered with television production company Planet Earth Television to create the pilot episode, "Sticks and Stones" (2010) and the subsequent episode “Are You Sleeping?” (2014). Both episodes were directed by Emmy award-winning producer and director Leo Eaton (Zoboomafoo) and written by Mike Erskine-Kellie. The show's storyline follows the character of a young girl driven to explore topics in science out of an interest to learn and a desire to help others and the world around her. In the pilot episode, the character is a 12-year-old girl named “Leah” (played by actress Lili Reinhart), while in the following episode “Are You Sleeping?” she is a 14-year old named “Cassie” (played by actress Gabrielle Phillips). Her younger brother (played by actors Joseph Serafini and Justin Bees) joins along as Cassie researches and finds leads at her local library and then visits different museums, hospitals, and institutions to conduct interviews with real-life specialists. The episode is supplemented with 2-D and 3-D animations that render anatomy and biology, as well as short interstitial episodes of music and dance. Production of “Sticks and Stones” and “Are You Sleeping?” involved the efforts of many groups and individuals, including the Regenerative Medicine Partnership in Education, where Pollock serves as Principal Investigator, and the Pittsburgh Creative and Performing Arts School (CAPA). ==Pilot== The Scientastic! pilot episode, "Sticks and Stones," focuses on the biology of bones, bone nutrition, bone healing, and the use of stem cells in bone repair. It follows the story of Leah (actress Lili Reinhart) and her best friend Habiba (actress Habiba Hopson) who breaks her arm during a soccer practice after being roughhoused by a group of bullies on the opposing team. To help Habiba regain the confidence she needs to continue playing soccer, she investigates what bones are and how they heal, visiting hospitals, museums, and research laboratories in Pittsburgh. Included are interviews with doctors, scientists, and researchers at UPMC Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh, the Carnegie Museum of Natural History, the National Aviary, and the McGowan Institute for Regenerative Medicine. Leah's younger brother Axel (played by actor Joseph Serafini) films her investigations. At the end, Leah compiles Axel's footage and creates a webcast, which is featured on the show's website. The pilot was released in May 2010, first airing September 2, 2010, on WQED-TV, Pittsburgh's PBS member station.

Text derived from https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=1378734114 under CC BY-SA 4.0; modifications have been made.