Podcasts about planetforward

The U.S. is a nation of islands--from Puerto Rico to Guam to Nantucket and more. But, the fate of these islands and the millions who live on them is at risk because of climate change. Think rising sea levels, increased frequency/intensity of storms and warming waters. My show this week is a prelude to Climate Week NYC and UN climate talks. I sit down with CBS News Weather Expert Jeff Beradelli and Arturo Garcia-Costas from NY Community Trust to assess first-hand how big this crisis really is, and what citizens can do.

Have you ever watched an interview that went beyond boilerplate questions and got to the heart of the subject? It takes skill and a well-honed appetite for curiosity to move past the superficial and begin to peel back layers of intrigue. You don’t have to be an award-winning journalist to ask good questions. Embracing your curiosity and developing proper research and listening skills can help you in just about any career you choose.  Frank is an Emmy Award-winning journalist with more than thirty years of experience reporting from around the world. Well known as an anchor, Bureau Chief of CNN’s Washington, DC office White House Correspondent and talk show host on CNN, Frank is also a nationally renowned moderator who has engaged some of the world’s leading personalities and appears regularly on U.S. and international media. Frank currently serves as Director of The George Washington University’s School of Media and Public Affairs, where he leads nearly two dozen world-class faculty and teaches classes on The Art of the Interview, journalism ethics, documentary and sustainability reporting. Frank also created PlanetForward.org, a user-driven web and television project that brings students and experts together to examine sustainable innovations that “move the planet forward.” What You’ll Hear On This Episode of When Science Speaks [1:00] Mark introduces his guest, Frank Sesno. [3:20] What are the best qualities of an interviewer? [6:40] Are the stakes higher for journalists asking tough questions today? [11:45] Why preparation is so important for journalists and interviewers. [16:20] Assets that scientists have when it comes to asking questions & public policy. [19:00] How should scientists adjust their language when working with policymakers? [21:30] Frank talks about the power of storytelling. [24:45] To master the art of storytelling, you’ve got to look at the classics. Connect with Frank Sesno Ask More: The Power of Questions to Open Doors, Uncover Solutions, & Spark Change Frank’s website Planet Forward The power of questions Have you ever watched an interview that went beyond boilerplate questions and got to the heart of the subject? It takes skill and a well-honed appetite for curiosity to move past the superficial and begin to peel back layers of intrigue. You don’t have to be an award-winning journalist to ask good questions. Embracing your curiosity and developing proper research and listening skills can help you in just about any career you choose.  Consider in-depth research, asking questions, and listening as assets that you can use to engage with your peers and broaden your abilities. Don’t assume that these are common traits that everyone has; you can stand out and make an impact by training yourself to become a good listener and questioner. If you’d like to go deeper with this important topic, make sure to check out Frank Sesno’s book, “Ask More.” Don’t just give data, tell a story We’ve all been there, you attend a lecture, and you care about the subject matter, but the presentation is dreadfully dull, what do you do? Some people will power through the bland presentation; others will pull out their smartphone for a quick escape. What if there was a way to make data, statics, and research findings relevant? According to Frank Sesno, the solution is to train scientists and researchers to become better storytellers.  The last thing you think of when a scientist or research comes to mind is a good storyteller. The good news is, these highly trained professionals are not destined to languish in the realm of jargon and insider lingo. Thankfully, innovative leaders like Frank Sesno are hard at work creating new avenues for scientists and researchers to get their message to a broader audience. In 2009 Frank formed Planet Forward to empower new voices and lead a global conversation on the planet’s future. Engaging a diverse audience of college students from across the country, Planet Forward uses storytelling, media, and educational events to tell the stories of invention and innovation that can move the planet forward.  Make sure to catch Mark’s full conversation with Frank on this exciting episode of When Science Speaks. Connect With Mark and When Science Speaks http://WhenScienceSpeaks.com https://bayerstrategic.com/ On Twitter: https://twitter.com/BayerStrategic On Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Bayer-Strategic-Consulting-206102993131329 On LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/markdanielbayer/ On Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bayerstrategic/ On Medium: https://medium.com/@markbayer17

In the course of his storied career, Emmy Award-winning journalist Frank Sesno has interviewed heads of state including five U.S. Presidents and many other influential figures including Presidents Bush and Clinton, Bill Gates, Benjamin Netanyahu, Condoleezza Rice, Anderson Cooper, Karl Rove, Hillary Clinton, and Colin Powell. Mr. Sesno, CNN's former White House Correspondent, joins Halli at her table on The Halli Casser-Jayne Show for a wide-ranging conversation.Frank Sesno has asked a lot of questions. During his 17 years at CNN, Sesno served as news anchor, analyst and reporter. For seven years he hosted the network's flagship weekend interview program, "Late Edition with Frank Sesno." Besides political leaders Sesno has interviewed scientists, celebrities, and best-selling authors along with leaders from a wide range of industries. In his new book ASK MORE, THE POWER OF QUESTIONS TO OPEN DOORS, UNCOVER SOLUTIONS, AND SPARK CHANGE with a foreword by Wolf Blitzer, Sesno offers a guide to unlocking the power of inquiry that's both intriguing and instructive by asking the right questions at the right time that will lead to success.Currently the Director of The George Washington University's School of Media and Public Affairs Sesno leads nearly two dozen world-class faculty and teaches ‘The Art of the Interview' in addition to conducting classes on journalism ethics, documentary, and sustainability reporting. He has also created PlanetForward.org, a user-driven web and television project that brings students and experts together to examine sustainable innovations that “move the planet forward.” Asking the right questions, politics, journalism in the age of Donald Trump, the early days of CNN -- a conversation with journalist, author, educator Frank Sesno on The Halli Casser-Jayne Show. For more information visit Halli Casser-Jayne dot com.

THIS WEEK: Did you know that the cost of using electricity changes throughout the day depending on the level of stress on our grid? In this webisode, Planet Forward talks to Quadlogic Controls Corporation in New York City about how smart meters can save us energy and money. FROM OUR BLOG: Check out PFF Sayre Swarztrauber’s blog post about smart meters and energy management. ALSO: Want to see other ways small businesses are working to de-stress our electricity grid? Duke alumnus David Brewster talks about how his company, EnerNOC, helps drive energy efficiency. FROM OUR NEWSDESK: The results are in! Here are 12 smart grid companies to watch in 2012.

THIS WEEK: Did you know the vegetable oil we use to make our french fries could also power our cars? In this webisode, Planet Forward drops by GreenLight BioFuels’ new plant in Maryland where they’ve been turning cooking waste into biofuel. FROM OUR BLOG: Check out Planet Forward host, Frank Sesno’s blog post about an innovative way to turn landfill trash into sustainable fuel. ALSO: Want to learn more about renewable fuels? President of Shell Oil, John Hofmeister talks about the importance of biofuels in a secure energy future. FROM OUR NEWSDESK: Berkeley scientists are looking into seaweed as a potential fuel source. Find out what they’ve discovered about this underwater alternative. Want to stay up to date with Planet Forward? Click here to subscribe to our email list!

THIS WEEK: This week Planet Forward is taking a look at the work PISA, a GW-based group, is doing in Nam Dinh, Vietnam. The women in Nam Dinh are adapting to a changing planet and they say they learned their tricks from none other than their ancestors! ASK AN EXPERT: Don't forget to ask a question to PISA expert, Linda Yarr, about the ladies of Nam Dinh and climate adaptation in Southeast Asia. MORE IDEAS: Worried about rising sea levels? Check out this idea from PFF Chutayaves Sinthuphan about floating houses and how they can help in our future. FROM OUR BLOG: Want to know what other countries are doing to be sustainable? Check out PFF Sarah Cahlan's photo blog about sustainable communities around the world! NEXT WEEK: Want to know who gets the title for the world's first LEED platinum auto plant? Tune in to next week's webisode and learn about what innovations make this auto plant the first of its kind!

THIS WEEK: Have you ever wondered 'What's something I do everyday that impacts the environment and I don't even know it?' #Thinkfwd student Charles Pulliam-Moore sheds light on an idea you might never have thought of: how green is YouTube? FROM OUR BLOG: Check out PFF Hayley Milon's blog post about how your YouTube consumption could be affecting the atmosphere. FROM OUR NEWSDESK: Facebook is already thinking about greening their servers. Check out what their plan is for their massive server farm in Sweden. FROM NBR: Tune in this week to the PBS Nightly Business Report to learn more about Ogranica's BlueHouse, which says it can turn your sewage into water you can use to water your plants!

THIS WEEK: Wish more of your tax dollars could stay in your pocket? This week Planet Forward spoke with some experts at the US Green Building Council about the potential savings in building more efficient schools! FROM OUR BLOG: Check out USGBC's statistics on improving schools and universities around the country and how much it can save in this week's guest blog. FROM OUR NEWSDESK: We could use the savings too, according to this article submitted by Planet Forward's Charlie Rybak which says the U.S. is seeing the most expensive natural disasters in history! FROM OUR PARTNERS: For more from USGBC experts Rachel Gutter and Rick Fedrizzi check out their ideas by going to the COMMIT!Forum group on PlanetForward.org!

THIS WEEK: Our rapidly increasing consumption of water is creating concerns about what the world would be like without any! One team, however, created an innovative solution to the planet's quickly disappearing water. Check it out in this week's webisode! ASK AN EXPERT: Also get the facts from AIA expert Bill Worthen about any risks related to recycled water and its systems. FROM OUR BLOG: Ever wanted to walk on water? How about live on it? Check out PFF Sarah Cahlan's blog postabout what these Thai houses are doing to stay afloat. TOP TWEET: Thanks to PFF Jordan Petitt for keeping us informed about issues with water: @justpetitt: Well this is frightening- the next 500 years of #sealevelrise@planet_forward ow.ly/7agJ3 #thinkfwd Before we let you go: At least we know these guys wouldn't be unhappy in a world without water! See how they make the best of a waterless pool!

THIS WEEK: Our friends at Second Nature have launched Campus Sustainability Day, so this week’s webisode features videos submitted to Planet Forward from audience members like YOU! We profile three schools that are working toward more sustainable college campuses. FROM OUR EXPERTS: See what sustainability chief Meghan Chapple-Brown has to say about what campuses can do to become sustainable. FROM OUR NEWSDESK: Thanks to PFF Joel Goldberg for offering a little support! Check out this article he submitted about how women's bras could be used as fuel. FROM OUR PARTNERS: Planet Forward showcases videos from across the country, submitted by viewers like YOU. Show us what's happening on your campus just like Caldwell College and University of Nebraska have done! FROM NBR: Middlebury College of Vermont knows what it means to be sustainable. The team won Planet Forward's contest and was featured in last week's PBS Nightly Business Report!

THIS WEEK: In this week's webisode: how to turn a Solar Decathlon house into a home. GW students Melissa Turley and Jon Fenech followed Team Empowerhouse through the Solar Decathlon. Their innovation? Making it affordable enough to be a Habitat for Humanity home. PLUS: Max Burns' blog post which takes a deeper look into affordable green housing. ANNOUNCEMENT: Congratulations to Team Middlebury for winning Planet Forward's Solar Decathlon Contest! You voted 'em so tune into the NBR piece on Oct. 20th, which will feature Middlebury and the team's major innovations. FROM OUR BLOG: Check out this week's blog post by Anthony Cefali about how some living plants in your home can improve air quality. Brown thumbs need not apply... FROM OUR NEWSDESK: Thank you to PFF Sarah Cahlan for submitting this piece about Participant Media's upcoming documentary. Check it out to learn more about water conservation and how it's plaguing our planet. BEFORE WE LET YOU GO: We know that sometimes the search for affordable housing can make people feel stuck, so we're trying to shed some humor on the situation!

THIS WEEK: Check out this week's webisode where Planet Forward's Frank Sesno interviews Secretary of Energy, Dr. Steven Chu on site at the 2011 Solar Decathlon! Chu talks about some of the coolest innovations in the houses, and even wonks out a bit on r values and building materials. STANDINGS: The official DOE final standings for the solar decathlon put the University of Maryland on top (congrats, Terps!) followed by Purdue, New Zealand and Middlebury. But we have our own contest and YOU are the judge. Vote for which team was your favorite at www.PlanetForward.org and maybe you can see them featured in a PBS Nightly Business Report! FROM OUR BLOG: Check out Planet Forward's Max Burns' blog post this week about the University of Maryland's 1st place win! FROM OUR PARTNERS: Want to know what a professional architect has to say about the different solar decathlon houses? Check out Planet Forward's Ask an Expert page and ask Bill Worthen what he thinks about your favorite innovation! FROM NBR: Check out last week's Nightly Business Report where Frank Sesno discusses the functionality and marketability of different innovations from the solar decathlon! TRENDING TWEETS: Follow the USGBC this week and their Green Build Next Conference at #GBNext! TOP TWEET: Thanks to PFF Sara Snyder for the Top Tweet! SSnyd: You have to check out the way this guy uses his space. @planet_forwardshould try this with the office.look@ 2m http://ow.ly/6IzsV #thinkfwd

THIS WEEK: Check out this week's webisode where Planet Forward's host Frank Sesno speaks with Don Ferrier, President of Ferrier Custom Homes. Ferrier discusses the costs and benefits of green roofs -- LITERALLY -- some costing up to $20,000. See why Ferrier himself thinks the benefits of this cooling system outweigh the costs. FROM NBR: Have you been watching this solar decathlon stuff and thinking: "Yeah, but does this all really WORK?" Tune in for Planet Forward's PBS Nightly Business Report to learn about some of the coolest innovations at the Solar Decathlon and hear some tough questions about how practical they really are. Check your local listings to find out when to tune in! VOTE: Want to see your favorite Solar Decathlon team featured on PBS' Nightly Business Report? Log on to Planet Forward now and Like your favorite team! The winner gets featured on NBR in Ocotber! ASK AN EXPERT: Planet Forward expert Bill Worthen is at the Solar Decathlon answering your questions. TRUE LOVE: Which Solar Decathlon house is your dream home? Take our quiz and find out! MORE ON ROOFS: Which is better green or white? We addressed that common question in one of our weekly webisodes from our archives.

THIS WEEK: We continue our journey to the Solar Decathlon! The teams are in Washington DC and showing off their homes. Check out Team New York's Roof Pod -- it sits atop a sky rise building and helps generate power. PLUS: Brendan Owens, Planet Forward's newest Expert weighs in on New York's use of bamboo and other new building materials. See more from Brendan and Planet Forward's Experts on our Ask an Expert page. CONTEST: Want to see your favorite Solar Decathlon team featured on Nightly Business Report? LIKE the team on Planet Forward.org. Get your likes in by October 10th! We'll showcase the team that has the most likes! TRUE LOVE: Which Solar Decathlon house is your dream home? Play our Matchmaker Quiz and find out! MORE: Like Team New York's plan for sustainable living in the city? There's plenty more where that came from! Check out these videos from the C40 -- mayors and Governors share their ideas to bring sustainability to their city. BEFORE WE LET YOU GO: Feeling left out of all the creativity that's going on at the Solar Decathlon? Visit this interactive world of doodles and exercise your creativity!

THIS WEEK: In this week's webisode check out the New Zealand team's neat innovations like the hydronic drying cupboard that can dry 6 bath towels in an hour and a half using...water? MORE FROM THE SOLAR DECATHLON: Don't forget to check out all the other Solar Decathlon teams and let us know what you think. LIKE your favorite and it could be PF's next webisode!! We'll feature the team that got the most likes next month on Nightly Business Report! STANDINGS: Right now, Team New York is crushing with more than 200 likes! University of Maryland is in a close second with 130 likes. Show your school spirit and help your favorite team get on TV! FROM OUR BLOG: Check out Planet Forward's Susanna Murley and how she thinks the Solar Decathlon could help create green jobs for Americans!! See her blog post on Huffington Post! FROM OUR PARTNERS: Bracken Hendricks argues that we can still grow green jobs in a tough economy. FROM NBR: Did you know the Empire State Building just received the GOLD standard for LEED certification? Check out our PBS Nightly Business Report to see how! NEXT WEEK: Keep checking in to see what teams are in the lead for the Solar Decathlon!! Like YOUR favorite team and maybe you'll see them come out on TOP! TOP TWEET: Thanks to @franksesno for this #sunnyideas: Climate changing? Gonna do something about it? He's already started. http://ow.ly/6q6N0 for more ideas go to Planet Forward #sunnyideas BEFORE WE LET YOU GO: Feeling nerdy? Want to make your own solar lamp out of household materials?

Viewers voted and TENNESSEE is on top in the race for the Solar Decathlon! Check out the Tennessee team's use of solar energy, insulated windows and a remote control iPad in their innovative new approach to a sustainable lifestyle. Also this week, ask expert Bill Worthen what HIS thoughts are on the Tennessee team's Living Light House. GET ON TOP: Want to see your favorite solar decathlon team's video featured here? LIKE them! FROM #SUNNYIDEAS: #Sunnyideas is Planet Forward's Solar Decathlon hashtag. Share your #Sunnyidea and maybe YOU can be featured here! Thanks to @MPGomatic for this #Sunnyidea RT: No hot water? A (n)ice cold shower saves water while eliminating the need for that third cup of coffee. IN THE NEWS: A solar powered charging kit brought to you by PFF Kristina Sgueglia. Thanks, Kristina. Submit your news item to our Newsdesk. FROM the AMERICAN INSTITUTE OF ARCHITECTS: Meet Planet Forward Expert Bill Worthen. Bill will be commenting on the Solar Decathlon videos throughout the month. Got a question for Bill or one of the other Planet Forward Experts? Check out Planet Forward's Ask an Expert. (Experts are standing by.) NEXT WEEK: More from the Solar Decathlon. Want to influence which team we feature next? LIKE your favorite team! FROM @SOLARCRICKET: Do you like solar energy? Help stop the haters like this guy and LIKE your favorite Solar Decathlon teams. The @SolarCricket is counting on YOU!

This week, we begin Planet Forward's coverage of the Solar Decathlon! 20 collegiate teams from around the world are designing and building sustainable solar homes. 11 of the teams have submitted their innovations to Planet Forward. In this week's WEBISODE, we take a look at the unique use of water in The University of Maryland's home. WE'VE GOT SPIRIT, HOW 'BOUT YOU? Want to participate in Planet Forward's coverage of the Solar Decathlon? LIKE for your favorite team, VOTE your favorite idea and TWEET #SunnyIdeas MORE ON #SUNNYIDEAS: Planet Forward's Innovator Danny Kennedy is the founder of solar company Sungevity. In our Innovator Update, we see how he is doing on his goal of eastward expansion. FROM OUR BLOG: Have a twitter account? We're taking your ideas about the Solar Decathlon teams through twitter. Planet Forward's Susanna Murley, tells you what PF is looking for. FROM NREL: Ever heard of a sky trough? Planet Forward visits the National Renewable Energy Labs to find out. FROM NBR: Last month, Planet Forward was on PBS Nightly Business Report introducing the Solar Decathlon. How do you think the liberal arts students at Middlebury will do against the engineering schools? NEXT WEEK: More from the Solar Decathlon. Want to influence which team we feature next? LIKE for your favorite team, VOTE your favorite idea and TWEET #SunnyIdeas. Got it?

In this week’s WEBISODE we travel to Bangkok to see what they are doing to cope with floods. PF Producer Victoria Riess talks with Porntep Techapaibul, the Deputy Governor of Bangkok.

In this week's WEBISODE Planet Forward host Frank Sesno sits down with Harry Shearer, the multi-talented comedian who is the voice of more than 21 Simpsons characters and host of his own radio program, "le Show." Shearer, a part-time resident of New Orleans, recently directed a documentary on what he calls the 'hard truths' behind Hurricane Katrina. The Big Uneasy takes a look at the real reasons why New Orleans flooded (hint: think man-made screw-ups, not natural disaster) and how marshlands can be nature's buffer against storms.

Here is a new way to deliver energy to those who need it. The women in one small community in Guatemala have wind, they just need a way to harness it. Enter enthusiastic students from the University of Michigan College of Engineering. In this week’s WEBISODE, we run their woven wind turbine innovation by Claudio Martinez from the Union of Concerned Scientists. MORE on the UCS: The USC submitted ideas to Planet Forward.org! Check them out here! THEN, submit your own! MORE on the U of Michigan: Students have a bright idea on solar! RELATED: Planet Forward Friend Oxfam America brings you climate survival strategies from the frontlines. AND: Columbia University’s Engineers without Borders make life more comfortable and sustainable for those in Obodan, Ghana. FROM OUR NEWSDESK: Germany’s power grid gets ready for offshore wind! Thanks, Laura DiMugno for sharing that news! Before we let you go, here’s one more vid to keep you entertained. Ducks Blown off Their Feet by the Wind Thanks to @Likeitalotte for naming this week’s webisode! If YOU want to name next week’s follow @Planet_Forward on Twitter and look for the hashtag #MyHeadline!

A rising tide may lift all boats, but what does it do to marshlands? In this week’s WEBISODE we showcase NSF funded marine scientist Dr. Nathaniel Weston’s work on how marshes are affected by sea level rise. We also take you on a trip halfway around the world to learn what women in Vietnam are doing to remove salt water from their rice paddies.

Would you climb a 300 foot tree to measure climate change? This week our WEBISODE focuses on some pretty daring work done by a research team from Humboldt State University led by Steve Sillet. The folks at KQED/Quest uploaded a video showing how Steve and his team climb Redwood giants to measure (literally measure, like, with really long measuring tape) the impact of climate change on Earth’s tallest forest. These measurements give Sillet and his team a sense of how trees have historically responded to climate change, and what the future looks like for these treasures.

This WEBISODE focuses on Dom Bosco Catholic University’s biochemistry laboratory in Campo Grande, Brazil. Dom Bosco is experimenting with a plant called bocaiúva, a native palm which could yield a new source of renewable energy.

This week, our WEBISODE focuses on “GreenStreets,” a project from Drexel University Professor and NSF funded scientist, Franco Montalto. Greenstreets are vegetated spaces in cities that help: -Manage Storm Water -Mitigate Air Pollution -Reduce Urban Heat Island Effect

Innovators need feedback to make their great ideas even better. So, we try to connect experts with our PF innovators every chance we get. In our WEBISODE this week, a top architect gives feedback to 3 ideas — green urban rooftops, hemp-based building materials and large-scale passive solar. Bill Worthen, the National Director and Resource Architect for Sustainability at the American Institute of Architects, sat down with Frank Sesno to talk about the pro’s and con’s of each idea.

Planet Forward met up with Bill Nye at the Toshiba/NSTA ExploraVision Awards last week. See what the first item on his #EnergyToDo list is. Tell us yours on twitter. (@Planet_Forward, #EnergyToDo)

Who knew lessons from preschool could apply to smart communities and our energy solution?! Check out this new initiative in Washington DC that takes the concept of sharing to a whole new level. Would you ditch your ride for one of these shared EVs?PLUS: Watch out for these Rebels! See how Ole Miss is doing on itsbike share program AND: You may be better at sharing than you thought. A ;video

Can your community turn tragedy into opportunity? Bill Worthen, American Institute of Architects’ National Director and Resource Architect for Sustainability, sits down with us via skype to talk about LEED certification and how disaster can provide opportunity to build back better.

Planet Forward’s television special, “The Energy of Innovation,” or what some are calling “Innovation Idol” features some of the best ideas submitted to PlanetForward.org on our energy future. Hundreds submitted. Thousands voted. Two will win.

The Rime of the Ancient Mariner may hit a little too close to home for the citizens of Mauritius. In this week’s webisode, take a trip to the small island with the help of Planet Forward member Matt Gray and learn about one way the smart community is trying to fix their water management problem.

Introducing the All Topics Page! It’s your source for finding ideas in all categories on Planet Forward. Susanna Murley, your Planet Forward web manager shows you how to use it! Have fun exploring!

Do you know of a community that is preparing for climate change? Planet Forward host Frank Sesno introduces our new topic and asks you to share your story!

In this week’s webisode, we bring you an idea from the National Science Foundation about the benefits of green roofs. Also hear from a Planet Forward member who shows us her small business of painting roofs white for an environmental benefit.

Have you heard the news? Planet Forward’s News Desk allows you to share stories in a different way! Web manager Susanna Murley shows you how…

If you saw our ;PBS special , then you know who our studio audience chose to be one of the Planet Forward Innovators of the Year. Not it’s your turn to

Gas prices. Nuclear worries. Oil spills.Are there any new energy innovations out there to help us kick our petroleum habit? The answer might lie in a microscopic single-cell plant, a landfill or an iconic building.For the last few months, YOU have shared your innovations to help improve how we use or generate energy.We narrowed down a pool of hundreds to just seven finalists.Who will be named Planet Forward’s Innovator of the Year? Watch and find out!

Planet Forward caught up with students from Caldwell College, Columbia University, George Washington University, and University ;of Arkansas at Fayetteville, top vote getters in Planet Forward’s online competition! These students reflect on their experiences with Planet Forward and share what it feels like to be on national television!

Just over a week until Planet Forward’s April PBS Special airs. Check your local listings to see when you should tune in! This week, we introduce you to your Planet Forward host, Frank Sesno as he explains his vision for the Planet Forward project and what impact the Innovator of the Year can have!

Our April PBS special is right around the corner! Meet the panelists and check your local listings to see when the special is airing in your area. You don’t want to miss Andrew Revkin, New York Times Environment Reporter and Dot.earth blogger, Former Michigan Gov. Jennifer Granholm, and Thomas Connelly, Chief Innovation Officer of DuPont weigh in on who should be Planet Forward’s Innovator of the Year.

Behind the scenes of Planet Forward’s April PBS Special, hear from the program’s director and watch our set be built before your very eyes! Tune in April 8th 2011 to see the program. Check your local listings for times.

Who will be our two Innovators of the Year? At Planet Forward’s April 2011 PBS special, you’ll learn who the live studio audience chose, and then you’ll have a chance to vote on who will be our Online Innovator of the Year! Meet some of the finalists and start to make your picks!

PlanetForward.org explored energy innovations with former Governor Jennifer Grandholm, journalist Andrew Revkin, and DuPont's Thomas Connelly before a live studio audience, which aired nationally on PBS in April 2011.

Your viability ratings helped us select 22 nominees, then your votes determined the Top Three Online Vote Getters. These three pieces were chosen by you to be on our April PBS prime time special. Check them out and learn what you can do to help us make the show! Be sure to comment on our ;nominees

Arizona State University is a cutting edge research institution. Lightworks is a ground breaking initiative focusing on harnessing the sun and transforming it into energy.

Students at the University of Nebraska are developing technology to combat vampire energy and we want to know if you think it’s a good idea. What are your thoughts on these smart houses?

During his State of the Union address, President Obama set a new goal: by 2035, 80 percent of America’s electricity will come from clean energy sources. The President is looking for innovations and investment in renewables, clean coal, nuclear and natural gas.

Erin Parsons and Lexi Combs, Planet Forward members and students at Ole Miss, share an innovation that is making bussing around Mississippi the hot new trend.

Environmental artist Rein Triefeldt calls on more than just stone to make his sculptures. In this week’s webisode, we look at his innovative way of making solar beautiful. Sorry Garden Gnome, these front lawn ornaments aren’t just pretty decoration, they produce energy too.

Environmental artist Rein Triefeldt calls on more than just stone to make his sculptures. In this week’s webisode, we look at his innovative way of making solar beautiful. Sorry Garden Gnome, these front lawn ornaments aren’t just pretty decoration, they produce energy too...

The Rockville Maryland Ice Arena is powering almost a third of its energy use from the sun. In this week’s webisode, Planet Forward features a video that explains how.

As the climate negotiations come to a close in Cancun, we ask environmental reporter Kate Sheppard of Mother Jones what can we expect in the way of an agreement?

The climate talks have begun in Cancun. How will things fair in comparison to Copenhagen last year? Planet Forward host Frank Sesno chats via skype with environmental reporter Kate Sheppard of Mother Jones to get the latest.

In this week's webisode, Planet Forward host Frank Sesno interviews Haynesville Director Gregory Kallenberg about his natural gas film and where gas fits in our energy future.

Last month Planet Forward test drove Nissan’s Leaf…this month, we show you one way you may be able to afford solar panels with zero upfront costs. Check out our piece on PBS’s Nightly Business Report and let us know what you think of Planet Forward member Danny Kennedy’s business model.

Ecovative Design is growing packaging material and other products to replace styrofoam and plastic. ;Their secret?

Darren Samuelsohn, POLITICO’s ;Senior Energy and Environmental reporter, has called the Democratic defeat in Tuesday’s elections a “day of reckoning” if they voted “yes” on the climate bill in a

In part 2 of this week’s webisode, Planet Forward host Frank Sesno sits down with President of the ;Alliance of Automobile Manufacturersand former Democratic Congressman Dave McCurdy (D-OK) about Tuesday’s results and the future of energy policy.

Planet Forward hosted a LIVE event during the White House’s GreenGov Symposium, a conference focused on making all levels of government more sustainable. In this week’s webisode, the U.S. General Services Administration shows how restoring a building can change a city, even if it means moving some bats! Click on the video to learn what our esteemed panel (Laura Ipsen of Cisco, Mayor Ralph Becker of Salt Lake City, HUD Deputy Secy. Ron Sims and the SBA’s Sean Greene) think of the innovations behind the GSA new LEED-certified building.

In this week’s webisode, author and Climate Expert Bill McKibben tells us about his 10/10/10 day of action, which he calls “the most widespread day of civic engagement on any issue at any time in the planet’s history.”

Planet Forward hosted a LIVE event during the White House's GreenGov Symposium, a conference focused on making all levels of government more sustainable. In this segment, Sandia National Laboratories shows the potential of how a little change can go a long way. See how and learn what our esteemed panel (Laura Ipsen of Cisco, Mayor Ralph Becker of Salt Lake City, HUD Deputy Secy. Ron Sims and the SBA's Sean Greene) think of their innovation.

Planet Forward hosted a LIVE event during the White House's GreenGov Symposium, a conference focused on making all levels of government more sustainable. PF Host Frank Sesno led a great discussion between the esteemed panel (Laura Ipsen of Cisco, Mayor Ralph Becker of Salt Lake City, HUD Deputy Secy. Ron Sims and the SBA's Sean Greene) and 6 employees eager to show that their agency (including the National Archives, featured here) could go green.

Is it worth is? ;Retired Navy Admiral John Nathman explains the high price, in both blood and treasure, that the DOD is doing to lower our risk.

Would you be more willing to buy your lunch from an environmentally conscious restaurateur? Planet Forward member Stephan Boillon, better known as @flmeetsDC, shows us his solar powered food truck. We do the math and run his business model by George Washington University professor and entrepreneur expert Paul Swiercz - does it make the grade?

The World Energy Congress is where the big multinationals present their newest energy innovations. At this year's event in Montreal, international companies wanted to show off their renewable investments. But is it all just a dance on the convention floor? We talked to Tony de Vuono of AECL, Henrik Hudsk of Vestas, Nany Mohn of Alstrom, Bob Fesmire of ABB, and Rudolf Sommer of EnBW. Check out their presentations and tell us if you think they can significantly change how we use and generate energy.

What’s the latest in environmental policy? We’re taking a break from this month's green business theme to give you the scoop from a real Washington insider. Planet Forward host Frank Sesno interviews Carol Werner, Executive Director of the Environmental and Energy Study Institute about the who and how in environmental policy when Congress returns next week.

On the one hand, it's a positive sign for renewable fans... a small family business making a go of it in solar and wind power. This Long Island family has been installing small-scale solar and wind energy packages in back yards, reducing homeowner’s electricity bills to almost zero. But, on the other hand, it illustrates how renewables' long-term promise are actually a big risk for the small fry. It can take more than a decade for homeowners to recoup their initial costs, red tape can trip companies up before they even start and taxes take a bite out of the annual bottom line. With all these hurdles, can they afford to wait for the sun to pay off?

The National Environmental Education Foundation’s online initiative, Planet Connect, is using video contests to engage students in environmental issues (sound familiar?) This special webisode takes a break from our tech-talk to show you their winning videos and an innovation that’ll make your morning routine more efficient. (Sound effect from soundbible.com)

Are you ready to ride the waves? Planet Forward Intern Dave Raish shows us a video – with a nifty animation – that explains how one utility plans to harness the most reliable resource on Earth – the tides. By connecting two tidal turbines – think underwater windmills – to the grid, Craig Collar of Snohomish PUD is investigating the potential of tidal power. Currently, there are only 40 sites on the planet that meet the right conditions to even generate tidal energy. Watch the webisode and then weigh in…do you think tidal power will sink or swim as a viable alternative energy option?

Electric cars may pimp your green image but are they worth the ride? Planet Forward member and creator of MPG-o-Matic, Daniel Gray, shows us some cool features of Nissan’s electric vehicle. But just how expensive is a zero emissions ride? We do the math! (You can see Dan's full video here.)

Planet Forward is looking for tech innovations that will shape our energy future. Dan LeFevers, Executive Director of Washington Operations for the Gas Technology Institute, says we should use what we have - collect biogas from livestock manure, landfills, and trees and pump it through pipelines that are already in place. What’s your energy innovation?

While many greens (you know who you are) are mourning the death of the cap and renewable energy standard as announced by Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.), Senator Merkley (D-OR) is carrying the flame of energy legislation with his Oil Independence for a Stronger America Act. Do you think it's strong enough?

Get your chargers ready! The President and CEO of the Electrification Coalition shares his innovation on cars that won't have you running to the pump.

Planet Forward is kicking off our conversation on energy efficiency. View what others are doing to change how we use or generate energy and then submit your own innovation.

Produced by students from Middlebury College, this creative piece shows us what could happen if we don’t find an energy solution.

At what point does the debate on climate change policy get so watered down that it becomes detrimental to progress? Environmental leaders Dr. Daniel Lashof (Natural Resources Defense Council), James Connaughton (Constellation Energy), Dr. Ana Unruh Cohen (Select Committee on Energy Independence and Global Warming), and Kate Sheppard (Mother Jones) discuss the future of the climate bill.

John Pemberton of Southern Company thinks the oil spill disaster in the Gulf may muddy the waters of Congress's environmental debate. Tell us what you think in the comments section below.

In light of President Obama's Oval Office address about the oil spill in the Gulf and the spills' 60 day anniversary, Planet Forward asks people around DC how they are feeling about, and reacting to, the environmental crisis.

Planet Forward host Frank Sesno talks with Commissioner Mark Spitzer, of the Federal Energy and Regulatory Commission about how the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico may finally lead to commercialization of plug-in hybrids.

The D.C. Bag Tax went into effect on January 1, 2010 with a portion of all revenues going to the Anacostia River Clean-Up Fund.

At our April 20 event, Planet Forward host, Frank Sesno, screened a video for the audience and our panel, and then we asked our panel what they thought of the ideas brought forward in the video. See the video and then watch their response...which may surprise you. Panelists (in the order they speak): -Dr. Dan Lashoff (NRDC) -Kate Sheppard (Mother Jones) -Ana Unruh-Cohen (Select Committee on Energy Independence & Global Warming -Jim Connaughton (Constellation Energy) Video produced by Nacho Corbella for "Powering a Nation" University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

George Washington University students, Ryder Haske and Elizabeth Cherneff, talked to American Petroleum Institute’s Rayola Dougher just days before BP's Deepwater oil spill. Hear what she says about the risks and what activists and other experts think about the event.

Planet Forward host, Frank Sesno, interviews Miles Grant, of the National Wildlife Federation, on the economic and environmental impacts he witnessed on his recent trip to visit the Deepwater Horizon oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico.

EPA Administrator Lisa P. Jackson talks live to Planet Forward host, Frank Sesno, about her agenda to tackle the extreme prevalence of unregulated chemicals in our daily lives, about what initially drew her to the environmental movement and about what college students today can do to get involved and make a difference to their environment.

Planet Forward host Frank Sesno asks the question, what role should religious institutions play in addressing issues of climate change? In answer, one filmmaker from UNC's "Powering a Nation" initiative explores how religious leaders are grappling with climate change and what they feel their responsibility should be both to the earth and to their flock.

EPA Administrator Lisa P. Jackson talks live to Planet Forward host, Frank Sesno, about the need to listen as well as speak when engaging in the environmental debate.

EPA Administrator Lisa P. Jackson talks live to Planet Forward host, Frank Sesno, about regulation vs. legislation, a coming price on carbon, and whether South Carolina Senator Lindsey Graham should "chill."

EPA Administrator Lisa P. Jackson talks to Planet Forward host, Frank Sesno, in front of a live studio audience at our "A Time to Change? event." Hear what she thinks the role of the EPA should be in a climate bill and how innovation can be spurred by better regulation.

Planet Forward host Frank Sesno sits down with "Earth Days" director Robert Stone which "tells the back story of how we arrived at this point" and what lessons can be learned from past successes and failures. "Earth Days" airs nationally on PBS on April 19 - check local listings.

Welcome to the Blacklist. Planet Forward host, Frank Sesno, interviews Richard Crespin, the head of the Corporate Responsibility Officer's Association, about their release of the first ever CRO Blacklist. See who else made the list and why they're on it in the first place.

Planet Forward Host, Frank Sesno, poses questions from the Planet Forward community to Robert Stone, director of the American Experience documentary film "Earth Days". Stone says "the great mistake of the environmental movement was when it got into a conflict with big business... because business will always win," and that "the environmental movement needs to get away from harping about climate change and get on to the business of energy and things positive."Earth Days premieres on Facebook, April 11 and on PBS, April 19. Check local listings

Producer/director of the PBS documentary, "Food, Inc.", Robert Kenner discusses how to reform the food industry.

Planet Forward host, Frank Sesno, poses questions from the Planet Forward community to Robert Kenner, producer/director of the film Food, Inc. Food, Inc. premieres as a part of the P.O.V. independent film series April 21 on local PBS stations around the country.

Examining one way to reduce your carbon footprint in Bristol, RI

Planet Forward host, Frank Sesno, talks with George Washington University business professor and Planet Forward member, Mark Starik, about what businesses can and should do to reduce their carbon footprint.

A great video from our collaborating school, Roger William's University. A team from their Planet Forward program went out to explore how Portsmouth, RI is trying to reduce its carbon footprint (and municipal expenses) through an investment in wind energy.

Planet Forward host, Frank Sesno, talks via Skype with Jack Hidary, venture capitalist and founder of the Freedom Prize. Hidary discusses Vancouver's efforts to host a 'green' Olympics and talks about what other cities could do to similarly reduce their carbon footprint.

A film team from the George Washington University recently ventured out to a local DC elementary school to look at Casey Trees outreach program to schools. Who doesn't love cute kids saving the world?from Planet Forward, visit us at www.planetforward.org

Author and columnist Thomas Friedman is interviewed by Frank Sesno. The discussion ranges from Copenhagen to the "green revolution".A webisode from Planet Forward. Visit us at www.planetforward.org

Author and columnist Thomas Friedman is interviewed by Frank Sesno. The user-submitted questions range from issues concerning the environment to energy policy.A webisode from Planet Forward. Visit us at www.planetforward.org