Public Health in a Warming World

Public Health in a Warming World
Interviews with Dr. Paul Epstein

Interviews with Dr. Paul Epstein

In January 2011, I interviewed Dr. Paul Epstein, co-founder of the Center for Health and the Global Environment at Harvard Medical School, for a video. Paul had a talent not only for research, but for communicating it with lucidity and compassion. His "foggy voice" (as his good friend, author Ross Gelbpsan describes it) drew you in and made you listen. As is so often the case, we used only a small fraction of his wonderful interview for the program we were producing. A few months later, Paul died of lymphoma.

In collaboration with director, editor Ian Brownell, and Mary Dewart, producer of the original video for Climate Change Action Brookline, I am publishing 11 videos cut from the original footage, with the hope of keeping Paul's vision alive at a time when his message is more urgent than ever.

Life in Death Valley

Headed for Death Valley?

Stock up on beer! A six-pack of Sam sets you back about $14.00 once you're inside the park... in this blog, check out some natural history, a haunted hotel, a look at the Ranch at Furnace Creek and a very useful shopping list.

Friday, April 24, 2009

The Goose Patrol

While walking my border collie mix at Larz Anderson Park in Brookline, I met a man with two border collies. Now these border collies (unlike my very mellow mutt) were intense. They crouched like wolves, stared with laser eyes and obsessively chased tennis balls. All during their coffee break. I had met the Goose Patrol. Every day, they start at Larz where they chase geese from the field and into the pond. When the geese land in the water, the dogs swim after them in "dogged" pursuit until the geese fly away. (A border collie can outswim a goose.) Eventually, the geese tire of this and find somewhere else to go -- a golf course or office park, perhaps. Then the Goose Patrol rolls over to the Fenway, where they clear geese from a park where Mayor Menino is scheduled to give a speech. In the afternoon, they tackle their most prestigious and challenging assignment: the Public Garden. The dogs are not allowed to harass the swans or the ducks who are beloved by tourists. But they are so attuned to their owner, he can call them off instantly with a gesture or a whistle. Kids on the swan boats snap pictures of the dogs swimming along side the boats. Then the Patrol is off for a some relaxation - an hour or two chasing tennis balls! 

No comments:

Professional Experience

Dana-Farber Cancer Institute
Writer
Cover developments in cancer research and treatment; work with principal investigators and staff to craft donor reports and articles for publication.

Harvard University School of Public Health
Writer
Worked with faculty to develop distance learning programs that incorporate video, discussion, networking, and assessment.

ElectroKite
Writer
Scripted mobile apps and songs for educational activities.

AARTPACK Interactive
Science editor
Scripted over 80 standards-based science and math activities for use on interactive whiteboards.

Harvard University
Correspondent – HarvardScience Website
Wrote online articles about Harvard scientists.
Geology is Destiny, A Profile of Paul Hoffman


Writer –
Dig It! The Secrets of Soil
Exhibit and website explore the importance of the earth's soil and its affect on climate. Developed and scripted numerous programs including Chef's Challenge, an animated/live action short that pits two soil chefs against each other. Boston Productions, MFM Design

LOTT Alliance, Olympia, WA
Writer
Visitors Center
Visitors control a drop of water as it works its way from the clouds to a treatment plant and troubleshoot problems during a flood. Boston Productions

Department of Homeland Security – Northeast Regional Advisory Council
Copywriter – It's Up to You to Stop the Flu
Developed concept and copy for advertising campaign. Wrote copy for television spot, transit ad, poster and PowerPoint presentation. Winner: CINE Golden Eagle. Geovision

Writer – Cape Cosmos
Developed content and scripts for website about the relationship between the Civil Rights Act and the space race. Kids explore Cape Cosmos to learn about women and African Americans who broke social barriers and made achievements in science and technology.

Scripted song lyrics and wrote all collateral material for ad campaign that teaches subtle signs of stroke. Distributed internationally. Geovision

The Connecticut Science Center, Harford, CT
Writer for Media
Scripted more than thirty interactive exhibits about weather patterns, global warming, mountain-building, and preventative health. Boston Productions, Thinc Design

We Treasure Elephants, The Philadelphia Zoo, Philadelphia, PA
Writer for Media and Interpretive Text
Developed content for exhibit story. Worked with museum designer to conceive and develop 3-D elements and panels that communicate changes in elephant populations. Scripted a conservation game based on research done by the Kinabatangan Orangutan Conservation Project. Boston Productions, Trace Design Group

Gray Fossil Museum, Johnson City, TN
Writer
Wrote scripts and created storyboards and flow charts for games for museum overlooking Miocene fossil pit. Visitors assemble virtual fossils or determine whether the animal was a carnivore, an herbivore or a reptile by looking at a single tooth. Boston Productions, Gallagher & Associates

Build-A-Business, Newark Children's Museum, Newark, NJ
Content Developer, Instructional Designer, Writer
Created learning objectives, interactive design, content, and script for video game in which visitors operate a bakery and learn fundamentals of running a business. Game pay-off highlights social benefits of entrepreneurship such as providing employment and contributing to a vibrant community. Boston Productions

The Discoveries Project, D. C. Heath, Lexington, MA
Head Writer
Led a team of writers, graphic designers, video producer, programmers, and composer. Immersive multimedia programs appealed to multiple learning styles. Students explored virtual worlds that offered realistic settings, video, animation and interactive games. Natural history programs featured an in depth look at the Sonoran Desert and The Everglades.

Children's Television Workshop/Sesame Street
Lyricist, Scriptwriter
Wrote classic song lyrics including The Toothpaste Song and The Library Song. Scripted several short films. Geovision

Education

BA English Literature, University of Notre Dame
MS Communications, Boston University

Associations and Memberships

National Association of Science Writers (NASW)
American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers (ASCAP)
Ed Tech Up, Boston