Tune in to WFPT-Maryland Public Television this Friday at 9:30 p.m. to find out who is crowned Planet Forward’s Innovator of the Year.
A panel of experts—including New York Times writer Andrew Revkin, former Michigan Gov. Jennifer Granholm and Thomas Connelly, chief innovation officer of DuPont —will evaluate seven of the top energy-innovation video submissions and a studio audience will vote on their favorite.
Representatives from Columbia University, Arizona State University, University of Arkansas and Caldwell College flew in to participate in person at the taping. The program will be hosted by Planet Forward founder Frank Sesno, director of GW’s School of Media and Public Affairs (SMPA).
The show will also air on WETA April 11 at 5 p.m.
The seven finalists were picked from hundreds of videos submitted to Planet Forward, a multiyear web-to-television initiative that examines issues of energy, climate and sustainability, and asks citizens and experts alike to “make their case” for an idea they think is game changing.
Planet Forward, a co-production of SMPA’s Center for Innovative Media, Maryland Public Television and Nebraska Educational Telecommunications, looks for original ideas and research, informed opinion, and firsthand experience to feature online and on television.
The finalists are:
• Kevin Surace of Serious Materials for “Empire State of Energy” with contributions by GW students Devin Greene and Kristina Sgueglia
• Gary Dirks of Arizona State University for “Lightworks: Cyanobacteria”
• Mike Mendez of Sapphire Energy for “Algae as Green Crude”
• Jamie Hestekin of University of Arkansas for “Algae to Butanol”
• Linda-Rose Myers of EcoTech Fuels for “EcoTech Fuels Develops a Synthetic Racing Fuel”
• Danny Kennedy of Sungevity for “Leasing Solar Panels”
• Al Dahlberg of Project Get Ready-Rhode Island for “Electric Vehicle Charging Stations”
Viewers around the nation will be able to vote on their favorite idea as well until May 5 at http://planetforward.org/vote-pbs/