« Back to NewsNEW RADIO PROGRAM HIGHLIGHTS AND INSPIRES INNOVATION

Hampton, Va. -- National Institute of Aerospace (NIA) is launching a national radio program and podcast series that features compelling stories of revolutionary ideas, emerging technologies and the people behind the concepts that are shaping our future. 

Called “Innovation Now”, the series of 90-second radio segments debuts September 1, 2011 on WHRV 89.5 FM. The new program is scheduled to air on WHRV 89.5 in the timeslot previously held by “Discovery Now”, another popular NIA-produced radio series which has been broadcast on WHRV and over 150 other radio stations across the country and internationally since 2007. “Innovation Now” will air new episodes every weekday (Monday through Friday) throughout the year. 

“WHRV is proud to continue our broadcasting partnership with NIA with ‘Innovation Now’, said Bert Schmidt, President and Chief Executive Officer of WHRO, the station’s parent organization. “The content of this new series is timely and relevant to our listeners and we highly recommend ‘Innovation Now’ to all public radio talk stations. 

Created by NIA’s award-winning media production team, the “Innovation Now” series highlights remarkable new technologies, stories of people who take creative approaches to solving problems and groundbreaking ideas that benefit lives and impact our world. 

 “The change in culture towards creativity and innovation is vital for the future American and world economy to not only survive, but flourish” said Dr. Robert Lindberg, NIA President and Executive Director.  “By sharing the compelling stories of ‘what’s next’ in innovation, this show will educate, entertain and inspire the public - particularly entrepreneurs, teachers and students, lifelong learners and business leaders.” 

NIA is a non-profit research and graduate education institute formed by a consortium of leading research universities including Georgia Tech, Hampton University, North Carolina A&T State University, North Carolina State University, the University of Maryland, the University of Virginia, Virginia Tech, Old Dominion University, the College of William & Mary and the AIAA Foundation. 

“Innovation Now” producers draw upon expertise within these organizations as well as tapping into the creativity of strategic partners such as NASA’s Office of the Chief Technologist and the public to create content. Current “Innovation Now” episodes in production focus on breakthrough concepts in transportation, computer technology, energy, health and medicine, public safety, consumer goods, aerospace, environmental resources and industrial productivity. 

In addition to hearing the “Innovation Now” series on the radio, the public will also be able to download the programs for free through web streaming and podcasts through iTunes and the show’s website, http://InnovationNow.us  

About NIA:

National Institute of Aerospace (NIA) is a non-profit research and graduate education institute created to conduct leading-edge aerospace and atmospheric research, develop new technologies for the nation and help inspire the next generation of scientists and engineers. Formed by a consortium of leading research universities, NIA serves as a strategic partner with NASA and the aerospace community to enable research creativity and expand technology development opportunities. The Institute integrates research and graduate education while creating new government/academia/industry partnerships to solve tomorrow's problems today. For more information please visit: www.NIAnet.org   

About WHRV:

WHRV is one of the public radio stations of WHRO, a regional media company that promotes education, culture and citizenship to the citizens of Hampton Roads, Virginia through a variety of services.  Every day, thousands of viewers and listeners tune in to broadcast programming on WHRO’s four public television and eight public radio stations.  Since its founding in 1961 to support education, WHRO has employed creativity and technology to serve its mission to enrich audiences through content that educates, entertains and promotes understanding. Owned by 18 local school divisions, WHRO delivers educational and new media services to 286,000 students and 25,000 educators per month as well.

For more information visit: http://www.whro.org/home/publicradio/whrv/

Further information about NASA's Office of the Chief Technologist can be found at: http://www.nasa.gov/oct