>> Braude: TONIGHT ON "GREATER BOSTON": THE HEADS OF THE MASS TEACHERS' ASSOCIATION AND BOSTON TEACHERS' UNION JOIN ME ON THE STATE'S NEWLY ANNOUNCED MOVE TO MANDATE IN-PERSON CLASSROOMS REOPEN IN APRIL, WHICH THEY SAY TOOK THEM COMPLETELY BY SURPRISE.

PLUS, HOW LOCAL NON-PROFITS HAVE BANDED TOGETHER TO CREATE LEARNING PODS TO HELP LOW-INCOME BLACK AND LATINO KIDS.

THEN, LATER, I'M JOINED BY ONE OF THE SCIENTISTS WORKING WITH NASA TO ANALYZE WHAT THE PERSEVERANCE ROVER SENDS BACK TO EARTH.

SHE'S FEATURED IN THE NEW SPECIAL FROM "NOVA," "LOOKING FOR LIFE ON MARS."

AND, FINALLY, SOME OF WHAT YOU'VE BEEN SENDING IN.

>>> A THIRD VACCINE COULD START GOING INTO ARMS IN THE U.S. AS EARLY AS NEXT WEEK AS THE F.D.A.

IS SIGNALING THEY'LL APPROVE JOHNSON & JOHNSON'S FOR EMERGENCY USE SOON.

THE SINGLE-DOSE SHOT WAS FOUND TO PERFORM BETTER AGAINST THE SOUTH AFRICAN VARIANT OF THE VIRUS THAN ORIGINALLY EXPECTED.

MODERNA AND PFIZER ARE ALSO RAMPING UP THEIR VACCINE DISTRIBUTION.

EXECS FROM BOTH COMPANIES TOLD LAWMAKERS THIS WEEK THEY EXPECT TO AT LEAST DOUBLE THEIR WEEKLY SHIPMENTS OVER THE NEXT FEW WEEKS, SOMETHING GOVERNOR CHARLIE BAKER SAID TODAY COULD HELP SPEED UP THE VACCINATION PROCESS ACROSS THE STATE.

>> WE CERTAINLY HOPE THE NEWS WE'VE HEARD MEANS WE WILL HAVE A CHANCE TO SIGNIFICANTLY INCREASE THE NUMBER OF FIRST DOSES.

IF WE DON'T SEE AN INCREASE IN VACCINES, WE EXPECT IT TO TAKE A MONTH FOR EVERYONE IN PHASE TWO -- THIS STEP IN PHASE TWO -- TO GET AN APPOINTMENT.

>> Braude: THAT MEANS WE LIKELY WON'T BE MOVING ONTO THE NEXT PHASE ANY TIME SOON, WHICH INCLUDES, AMONG OTHER GROUPS, TEACHERS AND OTHER EDUCATORS, MANY OF WHOM HAVE BEEN BACK IN CLASSROOMS FOR MONTHS, CALLING FOR HIGHER VACCINE PRIORITIZATION.

AND THAT CALL GREW A WHOLE LOT LOUDER YESTERDAY WHEN STATE EDUCATION COMMISSIONER JEFFREY RILEY ANNOUNCED HE'LL SEEK AUTHORITY TO ORDER IN-PERSON CLASSROOMS TO REOPEN FULL-TIME.

>> IDEALLY, MY INITIAL GOAL IS TO BRING ALL ELEMENTARY STUDENTS BACK TO IN-PERSON LEARNING FIVE DAYS A WEEK IN APRIL.

>> Braude: MEANING TEACHERS MAY ONLY HAVE JUST BECOME ELIGIBLE FOR THE VACCINE.

RILEY DID SAY SOME SCHOOL DISTRICTS COULD APPLY FOR WAIVERS AND THAT PARENTS WILL STILL HAVE THE OPTION TO KEEP THEIR KIDS REMOTE THROUGH THE END OF THE SCHOOL YEAR.

BUT THE ANNOUNCEMENT CAUGHT MANY TEACHERS AND THEIR REPRESENTATIVES BY SURPRISE, INCLUDING MY GUESTS: JESSICA TANG, PRESIDENT OF THE BOSTON TEACHERS' UNION, WHO USED TO TEACH MIDDLE SCHOOL IN THE CITY; AND MERRIE NAJIMY, PRESIDENT OF THE MASS TEACHERS' ASSOCIATION, WHO TAUGHT ELEMENTARY SCHOOL IN CONCORDE.

>> Braude: GOOD TO SEE YOU BOTH.

>> GOOD TO BE BACK.

>> Braude: MERRIE, LET ME START WITH YOU.

I KNOW YOU'RE BOTH UNHAPPY WITH THE LACK OF ANNOUNCEMENT, BUT IS THERE THE PROBLEM THERE IS NO VACCINE BEFORE THE FULL REOPENING, OR THERE IS ESSENTIALLY LOCAL CONTROL BY THE STATE?

WHAT IS THE MAJOR CONCERN?

>> JIM, IT IS ACTUALLY A COMBINATION OF BOTH.

I'VE BEEN AN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL TEACHER FOR 30 YEARS, AND I CAN CONFIDENTLY SAY FOR ALL EDUCATORS, THERE IS NO MORE JOYFUL WAY TO LEARN THAN BEING IN THE SCHOOL COMMUNITY.

SO WE ALL WANT TO GET BACK.

THAT'S WHY THE UNIONS HAVE BEEN FIGHTING SO HARD TO MAKE SCHOOLS SAFE.

THE COMMISSIONER IS RUNNING ROUGH-SHOT OVER THE RIGHTS OF SCHOOL COMMITTEES AND UNIONS AND UNDERMINING THE FULL YEAR OF WORK THAT WE HAVE BEEN DOING TO MAKE SURE ALL OF THE C.D.C.

MITIGATION FACTORS ARE IN PLACE, AND WE ARE SAYING NOW IS THE MOMENT.

LIKE THE C.D.C.

IS RECOMMENDING, AND LIKE EVERYBODY ACROSS THE STATE AND COUNTRY IS RECOMMENDING, TO PRIORITIZE VACCINATING EDUCATORS.

WE HAVE A UNION PLAN WITH THE FIREFIGHTERS AND THE MASS NURSES TO SET UP AN ONSITE VACCINATION PROGRAM TO MAKE IT EFFICIENT, AFFECTIVE, AND HAVE THE HIGHEST TAKE UP-RATE, SO WE CAN COME TO HERD IMMUNITY IN SCHOOLS FASTER THAN IF WE HAVE TO WAIT TO GO ONE BY ONE TO A MASS VACCINATION SITE.

>> Braude: MERRIE, IF I CAN BE CLEAR FOR JUST A SECOND, WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT C.D.C., THEY TALK ABOUT PRIORITIZATION OF PEOPLE LIKE YOU FOR VACCINATION, THEY SPECIFICALLY DON'T SAY IT SHOULD BE A MANDATED PRE-CONDITION.

IS IT FOR YOU AND YOUR MEMBERS?

DO YOU NEED TO BE VACCINATED BEFORE YOU'LL SIGN OFF ON A RETURN, OR NO?

>> NO.

NO.

LET ME BE CLEAR, JIM, WE HAVE ALWAYS, FOR THE PAST YEAR, BEEN IN ALIGNMENT WITH THE C.D.C.

RECOMMENDATIONS.

WHAT THE C.D.C.

HAS ACTUALLY SAID IS EDUCATORS SHOULD HAVE BEEN IN PRIORITY NUMBER ONE.

AND THEY ARE SAYING IT IS AN ADDED LAYER OF PROTECTION.

I CAN TELL YOU OUR LOCAL -- OUR POLLING MEMBERS, 80% TO 90% OF THEM ARE ACTUALLY SAYING THEY WOULD FEEL MUCH MORE CONFIDENT IN THE BUILDINGS IF THEY COULD BE VACCINATED.

AND WE SHOULD JUST DO IT NOW.

>> Braude: UNDERSTOOD.

JESSICA, YOU CUT A DEAL WITH THE CITY A MONTH AGO, I THINK IT WAS IN JANUARY, WHERE THERE WERE CERTAIN PRE-CONDITIONS MET, CERTAIN MITIGATION EFFORTS WERE AGREED UPON, BUT VACCINATION WAS, AGAIN, NOT ONE OF THEM.

WHAT DID THEY -- WHAT WAS BOSTON WILLING TO DO THAT THE STATE APPEARS NOT WILLING TO DO?

>> WELL, A COUPLE OF THINGS.

SO, ONE, I THINK THERE HAS BEEN A HUGE MISCHARACTERIZATION THAT TEACHERS' UNIONS HERE IN MASSACHUSETTS HAVE SAID WE WOULDN'T GO BACK INTO EVERYBODY WAS VACCINATED.

IF YOU LOOK AT THE FACTS, IT IS VERY UNTRUE.

WE HAVE THOUSANDS OF EDUCATORS WHO ARE ALREADY BACK TO SCHOOL FOR SOME TIME, AND EVEN BEFORE OUR JANUARY AGREEMENT, WE HAD EDUCATORS WHO WERE BACK WITH OUR HIGHEST-NEEDS STUDENTS IN DECEMBER AND JANUARY AS WELL.

AND SO THE CONDITIONS THAT WE WERE ASKING FOR WERE VALIDATED IN THE C.D.C.

GUIDANCE THAT CAME OUT A COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO.

SO WE WERE ASKING FOR THE THINGS THAT HAVE BEEN SCIENTIFICALLY PROVEN TO MITIGATE THE SPREAD OF CORONAVIRUS IN OUR SCHOOLS.

SO ADEQUATE SUPPLY OF P.P.E., MAKING SURE THAT THERE IS MINIMUM AIR EXCHANGE FOR AIR VENTILATION AND AIR QUALITY.

WE WERE ASKING FOR ON-SITE TESTING OR NEARBY TESTING OR SURVEILLANCE TESTING, COVID TESTING.

AND WE DIDN'T ASK FOR THE VACCINATION YET BECAUSE WE DID BELIEVE WE WERE GOING TO BE IN ONE OF THE NEX NEXT PHASES.

SO IT DID COME AS A SURPRISE NOT ONLY FOR THIS ANNOUNCEMENT, FIVE DAYS LEARNING IN PERSON, BEFORE A VACCINATION PLAN WAS SHARED WITH US, BUT ALSO BECAUSE WE WERE SURPRISED PREVIOUSLY WHEN TEACHERS WERE GOING BACK EVEN FARTHER IN THE PHASES.

>> Braude: JESSICA, BRIEFLY, IF I CAN, STAY WITH YOU, I WOULD LIKE YOUR REACTION TO A PIECE OF THE SCIENCE OF.

THE MOST COMPELLING ARGUMENT TO THE BACK-TO-SCHOOL ADMINISTRATORS MAKE IS MOST OF THE RESEARCH SAYS THE TRANSMISSION RATE IN THE CLASSROOMS IS LOWER THAN ANYWHERE ELSE.

NORTH CAROLINA AND SOUTH CAROLINA SENT KIDS BACK DURING HIGH TRANSMISSION RATES IN THE HIGHER COMMUNITY, THEY STAYED LOWER IN THE CLASSROOMS.

THAT IS A PRETTY POWERFUL ARGUMENT TO REOPEN, ISN'T IT?

>> I THINK IT IS.

BUT THEY DIDN'T DO IT MAGICALLY WITHOUT HAVING VERY STRICT ENFORCEMENTS OF THE MITIGATION PROTOCOLS IN PLACE.

IN PLACES WHERE THAT DIDN'T HAPPEN, YOU'LL SEE STUDIES THAT SAY THE OPPOSITE.

THERE WAS A STUDY OUT OF SWEDEN THAT ACTUALLY -- THERE WAS A LOT OF SCHOOL TRANSMISSION.

THE NARRATIVE I THINK SOMETIMES IT IS SAFE TO GO BACK INTO SCHOOLS.

IT IS SAFER TO GO BACK INTO SCHOOLS WHEN YOU HAVE STRICT ADHERENCE TO THE PROTOCOL RECOMMENDED BY THE C.D.C., AND THOSE WERE THE SAME CONDITIONS WERE WERE ADVOCATING FOR DURING THE SUMMER AND FALL.

>> Braude: UNDERSTOOD.

MERRIE, ON THE RADIO, WE TAKE HUGE AMOUNTS OF CALLS ON THIS ISSUE, PROBABLY WITH MORE EMOTION THAN ANY OTHER ISSUE WE TALK ABOUT, FROM PARENTS, FROM TEACHERS AND OTHER EDUCATORS.

THE QUESTION THAT IS MOST REGULARLY POSED IS: HOW DO YOU BALANCE THE POSSIBILITY, THE RISK OF ILLNESS, WHICH IS POSSIBLE, AGAINST THE CERTAINTY OF COLOSSAL LEARNING LOSS AND A LOT OF PSYCHLITY DAMAGEPSYCHOLOGICAL DAMAGE TO KIDS WHO HAVEN'T BEEN ABLE TO ACCLIMATE?

>> THAT WEIGHS HEAVILY ON THE MINDS OF EDUCATORS BECAUSE WE ARE NOT WITH OUR STUDENTS IN PERSON.

WHEN YOU LOOK AT WORCESTER AND YOU LOOK AT SPRINGFIELD, THEY HAVE FIGURED OUT BECAUSE THEIR EDUCATORS HAVE NEGOTIATED WITH THE SCHOOL COMMITTEE WHAT A SUCCESSFUL REMOTE LEARNING MODEL CAN BE.

THE REMOTE LEARNING MODELS ARE ACTUALLY CAUSING LESS DISRUPTION THAN THE HYBRID MODELS.

BUT WE ALSO HAVE TO LOOK AT THE BROADER CONTEXT.

KIDS ARE SUFFERING LOSS ON A MAGNITUDE NEVER BEFORE.

IT IS PARTLY LOSS OF BEING DISCONNECTED FROM THEIR FRIENDS AND THEIR EDUCATORS, WHOM THEY LOVE.

BUT IT IS LOSS OF THEIR FAMILY INCOME, LOSS OF THEIR HOMES IN FAR TOO MANY COMMUNITIES OF COLOR, IMMIGRANT FAMILIES, LOSS OF FAMILY MEMBERS TO COVID.

SO WE HAVE TO UNDERSTAND THE TRAUMA THAT THEY ARE EXPERIENCING IS NOT ONLY BECAUSE THEY'RE NOT IN SCHOOL.

AND THAT'S WHY MOVING FORWARD THE WAY WE GREET OUR KIDS BACK HAS TO FIRST BE ABOUT HEALING AND GETTING THEM READY TO BE CONNECTED INSTEAD OF DEEP, HARD, ACADEMICS.

>> Braude: UNDERSTOOD.

MERRIE, I ONLY HAVE A MINUTE LEFT.

IF YOU'RE NOT INVITE TODD THEINVITED TOTHE TABLE BUT THE COMMISSIONER GETS THE AUTHORITY HE IS LOOKING FOR AND DOES ORDER YIN IN-SCHOOL REOPENING, AND THE COMMUNITY DOES NOT GET A WAIVER, WHICH THEY'RE ALLOWED TO APPLY FOR, WHAT DO YOUR MEMBERS DO?

>> WELL, JIM, WE'RE GETTING TOGETHER NEXT WEEK.

WE'RE HAVING A STATE-WIDE RANK-AND-FILE MEETING TO FIND OUT WHAT IS ON THEIR MINDS.

OUR POSITION HASN'T CHANGED.

IT WILL NOT CHANGE.

WE'RE CALLING IMMEDIATELY FOR THE GOVERNOR TO ACCEPT OUR LAST MILE VACCINATION PROGRAM THAT WE'VE CREATED WITH THE FIREFIGHTERS, THE NURSES, A.F.T., AND B.T.U.

IT IS NOT JUST THE TEACHERS, IT IS SCHOOL COMMITTEES AND FAMILIES.

WE NEED A THOUGHTFUL, MEANINGFUL PROCESS FOR THE WAY FORWARD, ONE THAT ISN'T UNILATERALLY DECIDED BY THE COMMISSIONER, AND ONE THAT STILL LEAVES SCHOOL COMMITTEES AND UNIONS THE RIGHTS THAT THEY HAVE TO MAKE THE DECISIONS THAT THEY KNOW IS BEST.

>> Braude: LIKE AS WAS NEGOTIATED IN GOTION.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.

GOOD LUCK WITH YOUR WORK.

>> THANK YOU.

>> BE WELL.

> OF COURSE, REMOTE LEARNING ISN'T GOING AWAY OVERNIGHT, AND TO SAY THE PAST YEAR OF ZOOM CLASSES HAS BEEN HARD ON KIDS AND THEIR FAMILIES WOULD BE AN EXERCISE IN UNDERSTATEMENT.

SOME WITH RESOURCES OPTED EARLY ON TO POOL THEM AND HIRE TUTORS TO TEACH STUDENTS IN SMALL GROUPS, WHICH HAVE BECOME KNOWN AS LEARNING PODS, TO EASE THE BURDEN.

BUT FOR A LOT OF FAMILIES, THAT APPROACH IS JUST NOT FINANCIALLY FEASIBLE.

THAT'S WHERE THE COMMUNITY LEARNING COLLABORATIVE COMES IN, A GROUP OF LOCAL NON-PROFITS THAT PRIMARILY SERVE LOW-INCOME BLACK AND LATINO CHILDREN IN AND AROUND BOSTON.

BACK IN THE FALL, THEY LAUNCHED MORE THAN A DOZEN FREE PODS AROUND THE CITY, WITH TEACHERS AND MENTORS, TWO MEALS A DAY, AND A CHANCE TO LEARN AND PLAY TOGETHER WITH OTHER KIDS.

I'M JOINED NOW BY REPRESENTATIVES OF TWO OF THE ORGANIZATIONS INVOLVED: AMANDA FERNANDEZ, CO-FOUNDER OF LATINOS FOR EDUCATION; AND VANESSA CALDERON-ROSADO, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF -- APOLOGIES IN ADVANCE -- INQUILINOS BORICUAS EN ACCION.

>> Braude: I HOPE I GOT THAT CLOSE.

AMANDA AND VANESSA, THANKS SO MUCH FOR BEING HERE.

>> THANK YOU, JIM.

I'M QUITE EXPRESSED WITH YOUR PRONUNCIATION.

>> Braude: I'M PRESSED MYSELF.

SO THANK YOU.

VANESSA, STARTING WITH YOU.

CAN YOU EXPLAIN HOW THESE PODS TYPICALLY WORK?

>> SURE.

AND, AGAIN, THANK YOU FOR HAVING US TODAY ON YOUR SHOW.

THE PODS WORK MONDAY THROUGH FRIDAY -- FIRST, AS YOU MENTIONED, WE CAME TOGETHER THINKING, HOW DO WE CONTINUE TO SUPPORT CHILDREN WHO ARE ALREADY EXPERIENCING AN ACHIEVEMENT GAP.

AND WITH EQUITY AND JUSTICE AS A FRAMEWORK, HOW DO WE CREATE OPPORTUNITIES FOR THEM, AND TO WHAT FAMILIES WITH FINANCIAL MEANS WERE ABLE TO DO.

THANKS TO THE SUPPORT FROM PEOPLE, INCLUDING THE LYNCH FOUNDATION, WE CREATED THE PODS TO GO MONDAY THROUGH FRIDAY, FROM 8:00 TO 4:00 OR 5:00, SUPPORTING THE CHILDREN WITH ACADEMIC SUPPORT, RIGHT, IN THE CLASSROOMS, SO THEY CAN CONNECT VIRTUALLY TO THEIR CLASSROOMS, AND GETTING EMOTIONAL AND SOCIAL SUPPORT AND THEIR MEALS.

THE DAYS VARIES, BUT THEY ARE A SMALL GROUP OF KIDS, EIGHT TO 12 KIDS ONLY PER POD.

>> Braude: AMANDA, IS IT FAR ENOUGH ALONG TO BE ABLE TO JUDGE WHETHER OR NOT THIS EFFORT HAS BEEN A SUCCESS?

>> SO WE HAVE SOME REALLY POSITIVE EARLY INDICATIONS ABOUT THE SUCCESS OF THE LEARNING PODS.

WE REGULARLY CHECK IN WITH THE STAFF AT THE SITE LEVEL, AND WE'VE HAD MULTIPLE CONVERSATIONS WITH FAMILIES AND STUDENTS.

SO AT THIS POINT WE HAVE SOME PRETTY STRONG ANECDOTAL DATA THAT SUPPORTS THE EXPERIENCE BEING POSITIVE FOR STUDENTS AND FAMILIES.

AND WE'VE HEARD SOME PRETTY AMAZING QUOTES FROM FAMILY MEMBERS ABOUT THEIR CHILDREN FEELING SAFE AND SUPPORTED, AND, FRANKLY, LOVED IN OUR ENVIRONMENT.

IT GIVES A FEELING OF PEACE FOR THE FAMILIES WHO MAY NOT HAVE ANOTHER OPPORTUNITY OR PLACE TO SEND THEIR CHILDREN DURING THE SCHOOL DAY.

SO EARLY INDICATIONS ARE THAT WE ARE SEEING A LOT OF GOOD SUCCESS.

AT THE SAME TIME, WE HAVE PUT IN A NUMBER OF SORT OF METRICS THAT WE WANT TO TRACK AND FOLLOW THROUGHOUT THE POD EXPERIENCE.

SO WE'LL BE TRACKING MORE INFORMATION.

>> Braude: I LOVE HEARING THAT.

>> AND WHAT I WOULD LIKE TO ADD TO THAT, JIM, ANECDOTALLY, IN ADDITION, TEACHERS HAVE TOLD US, AND HAVE TOLD OUR TEACHERS IN THE PODS, THAT THEY HAVE SEEN GREAT PROGRESS IN THE ACADEMICS OF THE CHILDREN IN OUR PODS, OR ADDITIONALLY -- WE'RE SEEING THAT NOT ONLY CHILDREN AND FAMILIES, BUT ALSO TEACHERS ARE SAYING IT IS GOOD.

>> THAT'S A GREAT POINT.

>> Braude: AT SOME POINT -- WE WERE JUST TALKING TO THE HEADS OF THE TEACHERS' UNIONS.

AT SOME POINT WE'LL RETURN TO SEMI NORMALCY IN THE SCHOOLS, BUT THAT IS NOT GOOD ENOUGH.

WHEN I WAS READING ABOUT WHAT YOU GUYS ARE DOING, IS THERE SOME USE FOR PODS LIKE THIS EVEN IN THE FUTURE TO SUPPLEMENT THE LEARNING THAT KIDS GET IN A CLASSROOM?

THAT SEEMS TO ME TO BE THE GREAT TAKE-AWAY FROM THIS STORY.

IS THAT POSSIBLE, VANESSA?

>> WE BELIEVE SO.

IN FACT, THIS WHOLE IDEA CAME ABOUT WITH THE FOUR OF US COMING TOGETHER TO REALLY SAY, WHAT CAN WE DO TO SUPPORT OUR CHILDREN?

AND, YES, IT IS POSSIBLE, EVEN WHEN SCHOOLS REOPEN IN APRIL, AS THE COMMISSIONER OF EDUCATION JUST ANNOUNCED EARLIER, WE BELIEVE THAT THERE IS ROOM FOR THE PODS TO CONTINUE TO SUPPORT CHILDREN IN SMALLER ENVIRONMENTS, AND TO REALLY SUPPORT THEIR ACADEMIC GROWTH.

>> Braude: BY THE WAY, WHEN YOU SAY "THE FOUR OF YOU," I FEEL BAD, THE OTHER TWO ORGANIZATIONS ARE THE "Y" OF BOSTON AND THE BASE, RIGHT?

>> YES, THAT'S RIGHT.

WE WOULD BE REMISS -- >> Braude: I WAS REMISS, BUT I'M NOT REMISS ANYMORE.

AMANDA, DO YOU AGREE WITH THAT, THAT THERE IS A VALUE WHEN KIDS DO RETURN TO TRADITIONAL CLASSROOMS, TO USE THIS CREATIVELY, TO SUPPLEMENT, AND HOPEFULLY FOR FAR MORE KIDS THAN YOU'VE BEEN FORTUNATE ENOUGH TO SERVE.

DO YOU AGREE WITH THAT?

>> I DO.

IT HAS BEEN A PRIVILEGE TO BE A PART OF THIS WORK.

BECAUSE WHAT WE ARE SEEING IS A NEW OPPORTUNITY TO RETHINK SOME OF THE WAYS IN WHICH WE ARE SUPPORTING LEARNING FOR OUR STUDENTS AND SUPPORTING FAMILIES.

SO WHAT WE ARE DOING IN THE PODS IS INCORPORATE PRATEING WHATINCORPORATINGWHAT WE WOULD LIKE TO SEE IN THE EDUCATIONAL EXPERIENCE OF OUR STUDENTS.

WE INCORPORATE MENTAL HEALTH OPPORTUNITIES, WE HAVE THE TEACHERS WHO SHARE THE BACKGROUNDS OF THE STUDENTS.

WE ARE COLLABORATIVE CLEATEDS WHO ALL ARE BLACK AND LATINO LEADERS IN THE COMMUNITY.

AND THESE ARE ALL INGREDIENTS TO WHAT WE WOULD LIKE TO SEE AS A SPRINGBOARD FOR HOW WE MIGHT REIMAGINE EDUCATION IN THE FUTURE.

WE'RE LEARNING SO MUCH THAT WE KNOW CAN BE APPLIED TO THE FUTURE EXPERIENCE, THAT WE KNOW HAS TO BE IN PLACE RIGHT NOW GIVEN THE INEQUITIES THAT HAVE BEEN EXACERBATED THROUGHOUT THIS PANDEMIC.

THE PROBLEMS WERE THERE BEFORE, AS WE ALL KNOW.

THE PANDEMIC HAS MADE IT WORSE.

AND WE THINK WE HAVE A POSSIBLE OPPORTUNITY TO MAKE IT BETTER FOR OUR STUDENTS AND FAMILIES AND START CLOSING THE GAP.

>> Braude: AMANDA AND VANESSA, I THINK THE IDEA IS FABULOUS.

CONGRATULATIONS TO YOU AND YOUR TWO COLLEAGUES.

I HOPE THE MONEY IS THERE.

I HOPE FOUNDATIONS ARE LISTENING.

AND I HOPE TO GET AN UPDATE FROM YOU IN THE FUTURE.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR TIME.

>> THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING US.

>>> NEXT UP, NASA'S NEWEST MARS ROVER TOOK AROUND EIGHT YEARS TO BUILD AND TRAVELED SEVEN LONG MONTHS TO ITS DESTINATION.

BUT THE REAL DRAMA CAME IN WHAT SCIENTISTS CALL THE "SEVEN MINUTES OF TERROR" LAST THURSDAY AFTER THE CRAFT, APTLY NAMED PERSEVERANCE, ENTERED MARS' ATMOSPHERE AT 12,000 MILES PER HOUR AND THEN FULLY TOOK OVER TO LAND ITSELF.

>> WE GET ONE CHANCE.

WE HAVE NO OPPORTUNITY TO FIX IT, AND IT HAS TO WORK THE VERY FIRST TIME.

THE PAYOFF IS WE COULD MAYBE BRING BACK FOSSIL MARTIAN CELLS.

>> Braude: PERSEVERANCE IS NOW OFFICIALLY ON A TWO-YEAR-LONG MISSION, SEARCHING FOR SIGNS OF ANCIENT LIFE.

GBH'S "NOVA" HAS BEEN FOLLOWING THE TEAM OF SCIENTISTS BEYOND THE PROJECT FOR YEARS, AND THEY'VE DOCUMENTED THE JOURNEY SO FAR IN A ONE-HOUR SPECIAL PREMIERING TONIGHT CALLED "LOOKING FOR LIFE ON MARS."

AND I'M JOINED NOW BY ONE OF THE MEMBERS OF THE MARS 2020 MISSION: CO-LEADER OF THE TEAM OF RETURNED-SAMPLE SCIENTISTS, TANJA BOSAK, A PROFESSOR OF BIOGEOLOGY AT M.I.T.

>> Braude: TANJA, IT IS GOOD TO SEE YOU.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING HERE.

>> HELLO.

THANKS FOR HAVING HE.

>> Braude: TANJA, OTHER THAN THE SHEAR WONDER OF IT ALL, WHEN IS ABSOLUTELY IMMENSE, WHY SHOULD THE AVERAGE PERSON WATCHING TONIGHT CARE ABOUT WHY -- ABOUT WHETHER WE LEARNED IF THERE WAS ANCIENT LIFE ON MARS OR NOT?

>> THE QUESTION OF HOW WE CAME TO BE AND ARE WE ALONE IN THE UNIVERSE IS PROBABLY ONE OF THE BIGGEST SCIENTIFIC AND HUMAN QUESTIONS THERE ARE.

SO I THINK ANYONE WHO LOOKS AT A STARRY SKY AND WONDERS WHETHER THERE IS ANYTHING OUT THERE, MARS IS A CLOSE PLANETARY NEIGHBOR THAT HELPS US -- PERHAPS WILL HELP US ANSWER THIS QUESTION.

>> Braude: YOU LEAD A TEAM OF SCIENTISTS THAT WILL SELECT THE SAMPLES, THE ROCK SAMPLES, THAT ARE ULTIMATELY RETURNED TO EARTH.

HOW DO YOU DECIDE FROM 100 MILLION MILES AWAY WHICH ROCKS ARE THE ONES THAT FETCH, I THINK IT IS CALLED, FETCHES, SELECTS, AND PUTS IN TUBES SOME DAY TO BE RETURNED TO EARTH.

>> THE FETCH ROVER IS THE ROVER THAT WILL COME TO PICK UP THE TOOLS.

THE PER PERSEVERANCE WILL BE THE ROVER THAT WILL DRILL ROCKS AND COLLECT SOME SOIL SAMPLES.

>> Braude: I UNDERSTAND.

>> WE HAVE A LOT OF INSTRUMENTS ON THIS ROVER.

WE HAVE CAMERAS.

WE HAVE INSTRUMENTS THAT CAN ANALYZE THE CHEMICAL COMPOSITION OF ROCKS, AND WE HAVE A LARGE-CAP TEAM LARGE TEAM OF SCIENTISTS WHO ARE ALL EXCITED TO DOWNLOAD DATA AS SOON AS THEY COME, AND LOOKING OVER THEM AND DETERMINING ROCKS TO IDENTIFY THE BEST ONES TO COLLECT.

SO IT IS A REALLY BIG EFFORT.

>> Braude: A REALLY BIG EFFORT IS AN UNDERSTATEMENT OF THE AGES.

HOW DO THEY GET BACK HERE?

HOW DO THEY GET TO YOUR LAB OR THE LAB OF SOMEONE LIKE YOU?

HOW DO THEY GET BACK TO EARTH?

>> THERE WILL BE THIS FETCH ROVER.

I THINK THAT ROVER IS SUPPOSED TO LAND ON MARS IN 2028 AND COLLECT THE TOOLS THAT OUR ROVERS COLLECT.

THEY'RE SUPPOSED TO COLLECT ABOUT 30 SAMPLES, AND TO PUT THEM DOWN SOMEWHERE ON THE SURFACE OF MARS.

AND THE FETCH ROVER WILL COME TO COLLECT THOSE SAMPLES.

AND THERE WILL BE ANOTHER CRAFT THAT PICKS THEM UP AND BRINGS THEM BACK TO EARTH.

THAT SHOULD HAPPEN IN 2031, AS THE EARLIEST, AND THEN THE SAMPLES WILL BE AVAILABLE FOR THE ENTIRE SCIENTIFIC COMMUNITY TO ANALYZE.

SO IT WOULDN'T BE JUST ME OR THE CURRENT TEAM, OR MAYBE NOT AT ALL.

>> Braude: SO WHEN YOU DO WHAT YOU DO FOR A LIVING, DO YOU EVER LOSE YOUR SENSE OF AWE THAT WE ALL EXPERIENCE?

DO YOU EVER LOSE IT BECAUSE YOU'RE SO DUG INTO THE WORK, OR NO?

>> IT IS HARD TO LOSE IT.

THERE ARE TOO MANY MEETINGS AND JUST THE DAY IN AND DAY OUT.

BUT GETTING -- WORKING -- THIS IS MY FIRST MISSION, AND JUST BEING ABLE TO LOOK AT THE IMAGES THAT COME EVERY DAY AND THINK ABOUT -- AND REALIZE THAT WE ARE HERE INTERPRETING WHAT HAPPENED BILLIONS OF YEARS AGO ON A COMPLETELY DIFFERENT PLANET AND LOOKING AT THIS ALIEN WORLD, I BELIEVE IT RESTORES A LOT OF THE SENSE OF AWE.

>> Braude: AN ALIEN WORLD WITH A LANDSCAPE THAT TO ME, AND SOME OF YOUR COLLEAGUES, LOOKS VERY MUCH LIKE PARTS OF THE PLANET THAT WE LIVE ON.

WHEN WE TALK ABOUT THE POSSIBILITY OF LIFE ON MARS, I ASSUME WE'RE NOT TALKING ABOUT THINGS LIKE THIS OR THINGS LIKE THIS, FOR EXAMPLE.

YOU -- WE'RE TALKING MICROBIAL.

WHEN I WAS A KID, I THOUGHT THERE WAS GOING TO BE SOMEONE LOOKING JUST LIKE ME WALKING ON THE PLANET.

IT IS MICROBIAL, IS THAT WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT?

>> AT BEST, MICROBIAL.

THE SITES WE'LL BE EXPLORING FOR TWO, THREE YEARS TO COME, IS PROBABLY 3.5 BILLION YEARS OLD OR OLDER.

SO ANY LIFE AT THAT POINT WOULD HAVE BEEN MICROBIAL.

WE CANNOT EXPECT DINOSAUR FOSSILS, WE CANNOT EXPECT FISH FOSSILS, WE CANNOT EXPECT FOSSIL TREES AND LEAVES -- NONE OF THAT.

WE WILL HAVE TO LOOK FOR SOMETHING TINY.

>> Braude: AND BASED UPON PRIOR MISSIONS, WHAT HAVE YOU AND YOUR COLLEAGUES LEARNED THAT SUGGESTS THAT LIFE MAY HAVE EXISTED ON MARS BILLIONS OF YEARS AGO?

>> MARS SCIENCE HAS COME A LONG WAY, BEING ABLE TO ANALYZE IMAGES, AND FROM JUST PICTURES AND SOME ELEMENTAL COMPOSITION OF ROCKS, THAT THERE WAS IN FACT FLOWING WATER ON THIS SURFACE OF THIS PLANET THAT IS NOW MOSTLY DRY.

THERE WAS LIQUID WATER, SO THERE MUST HAVE BEEN A THICKER ATMOSPHERE TO KEEP THAT WATER LIQUID.

AND FROM THE COMPOSITION OF ROCKS, PEOPLE CAN INCUR THAT THE CONDITIONS WERE QUITE HABITABLE TO LIFE, IF THERE WERE ANY LIFE OF PRESENCE.

SO THE P.H.

VALUES WERE JUST FINE.

THEY WERE NOT TOO HIGH AND NOT TOO LOW.

MARS SEEMS TO HAVE BEEN MUCH BETTER FOR LIFE AT SOME POINT IN ITS HISTORY.

>> Braude: IF WE DO LEARN THAT LIFE DID EXIST, WHAT DOES IT TELL US ABOUT THE UNIVERSE?

AND IF WE LEARN LIFE DIDN'T EXIST, OR AT LEAST WE CAN'T FIND IT ON MARS, WHAT DOES THAT TELL US?

>> I THINK THAT NO SAMPLE THAT WE BRING BACK FROM MARS CAN CONCLUSIVELY SAY THERE HAS NEVER BEEN ANY LIFE ON MARS AT ANY POINT IN ITS HISTORY.

JUST BY THE NATURE OF THESE SAMPLES AND FOSSIL PRESERVATION, IF YOU'RE LOOKING FOR MICROBIAL FOSSILS, YOU CAN GO A COUPLE OF CENTIMETRES LEFT OR RIGHT FROM THE FOSSIL AND NOT FIND MUCH.

WE HOPE TO STRIKE GOLD WITH THE SAMPLES WE SELECT, BUT THAT MAY NOT BE THE CASE.

IN THAT CASE, WE'LL HAVE TO SEND ANOTHER MISSION TO LOOK FOR MORE SAMPLES.

>> Braude: BUT IF YOU DO STRIKE GOLD, WHAT DOES THAT TELL YOU?

>> IF WE STRIKE GOLD, THEN THAT TELLS US THAT AT LEAST IN THE EARLY DAYS OF THE SOLAR SYSTEM, AND WHEN I SAY THE EARLY DAYS, I MEAN BILLIONS OF YEARS AGO, LIFE WAS MUCH MORE WIDESPREAD IN THE SOLAR SYSTEM.

SO THE HABITABLE CONDITIONS THAT WE'RE INFERRING JUST FROM THE GEOLOGY AND THE CHEMISTRY THAT WE CAN MEASURE WOULD HAVE FAVORED LIFE ON MARS.

SO THAT WOULD BE INCREDIBLE.

JUST BY LOOKING AT THE PLACE THAT TELLS US THE SEARCH STRATEGY FOR LIFE IS ENTIRELY CORRECT, AND IT TELLS US THAT EARTH IS NOT THE ONLY PLANET THAT HAS EVER HARBORED LIFE.

IT CAN ALSO MAYBE TELLS US IF WE DON'T FIND LIFE, THAT EARTH IS TRULY REALLY UNIQUE.

>> Braude: TANJA, THIS IS ONE OF THE MOST EXCITING THINGS I HAVE WATCH FROM AFAR.

CONGRATULATIONS FOR YOUR WORK AND LOTS OF LUCK IN THE YEARS AHEAD.

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.

> AGAIN, YOU CAN WATCH "NOVA'S" ONE-HOUR SPECIAL, "LOOKING FOR LIFE ON MARS," TONIGHT AT 9:00 P.M.

RIGHT HERE ON GBH 2 AND ONLINE AT www.pbs.org/nova.

AND, FINALLY TONIGHT, A LITTLE BIT OF WHAT YOU'VE BEEN SENDING IN.

CAROLINE SHARED THIS PHOTO OF A BEAUTIFUL WINTER SUNRISE OUT IN THE BERKSHIRES.

AND JOAN SENT US THESE TWO PICTURES OF A LITTLE WILDLIFE ON HER PATIO IN WAYLAND, APPARENTLY ENJOYING THE DINING OPTIONS.

THANK YOU BOTH FOR THOSE.

AND, AS ALWAYS, IF YOU HAVE SOMETHING YOU'D LIKE TO SHARE, EMAIL OR TWEET IT TO US AT THE ADDRESSES ON YOUR SCREEN.

THAT'S IT FOR TONIGHT, BUT COME BACK TOMORROW.

GOVERNOR CHARLIE BAKER, ALONG WITH MANY OTHERS, IS TESTIFYING BEFORE STATE LAWMAKERS ABOUT MASSACHUSETTS' "BUMPY" BUT APPARENTLY IMPROVING VACCINE ROLLOUT.

WE'LL TAKE A LOOK AT WHAT WE'VE LEARNED.

PLUS,THE PEOPLE BEHIND A NEW BOOK ABOUT THE STRUGGLES, STRESS, AND ANXIETY KIDS HAVE BEEN DEALING WITH OVER THE PAST YEAR, AND HOW TO MAKE IT THROUGH.

IT'S CALLED, "THE INSANELY AWESOME PANDEMIC PLAYBOOK: A HUMOROUS MENTAL HEALTH GUIDE FOR KIDS."

THAT AND MORE, TOMORROW AT 7:00.

THANKS FOR WATCHING AND STAY SAFE.

Captioned by Media Access Group at WGBH access.wgbh.org