Smithsonian Channel to Offer Tribute to Women in Science

NEW YORK, March 6:
Throughout this month, Smithsonian
Channel will roll out a series of documentary specials that pay tribute to
female scientists, depicting their work with a variety of animal species around
the world.

The series of specials
will showcase a variety of women—some affiliated with Smithsonian
Institution research programs—who display keen education, rigorous
inquiry and personal courage in the pursuit of knowledge about the natural
world.

Among this month’s
offerings are: Woman Among Wolves,
featuring Gudrun Plueger, a former world champion cross-country skier and
long-distance runner who has been studying wolves in the wilds of Canada; Batwomen
of Panama, about a team of female
scientists who set out into the jungle to find, track and study bats; Flying
with Condors, following
Englishwoman Judy Leden, a world-champion hang-glider who climbs into the air
alongside giant condors; and Ghost Cat—Saving the Clouded Leopard, in which Smithsonian scientist JoGayle Howard and
a global team of scientists, forest officials and field researchers set out
into a Southeast Asian jungle to save one of the world's most elusive and
enigmatic predators. Rounding out the slate of specials is Wanted: Anaconda, featuring a multi-national team that searches for
the largest snake in the world using advanced technology to spot the snakes in
their natural habitat with minimal disturbances from humans.

David Royle, the executive
VP of programming and production for Smithsonian Channel, said: "We
believe that the work of women scientists doesn't get the attention is
deserves, and that young people need to have an opportunity to witness the
gutsy and cutting-edge field science being practiced by these remarkable women.
Our channel is making a commitment to focusing a spotlight on their
achievements and making this a regular feature."

Smithsonian Networks is a
joint venture between Showtime Networks and the Smithsonian Institution. It was
formed to create new channels to showcase scientific, cultural and historical
programming based largely upon the assets of the Smithsonian Institution.

—By Irene Lew