Forgotten Genius

Tuesday, February 6 from 8 to 10 pm ET/PT on NOVA

Check your local listings as dates and times may vary.

Hello Educators,

Next week NOVA presents a fascinating and largely unknown story of scientific triumph and racial inequality. The two-hour special, "Forgotten Genius," explores the compelling story of 20th-century chemist Percy Lavon Julian, a world-class scientist and civil rights pioneer who helped break new ground in the chemistry of plants. (Subjects covered: chemistry, social studies, U.S. history)

In the coming weeks:

Feb. 13 — The Last Great Ape
http://www.pbs.org/nova/bonobos/

Feb. 20 — America's Stone Age Explorers (R)
http://www.pbs.org/nova/stoneage

Feb. 27 — Treasures of a Sunken City (R)
http://www.pbs.org/nova/sunken

For a downloadable PDF of the entire season visit

http://www.pbs.org/nova/teachers/schedule.html

Regards,
Karen Hartley
Teachers Editor
NOVA Web Site
http://www.pbs.org/nova/teachers/
E-mail: NOVA_Teachers@wgbh.org

NOVA Presents "Forgotten Genius"
Broadcast: Tuesday, February 6, 2006
http://www.pbs.org/nova/julian/
(NOVA airs on PBS at 8 p.m. ET/PT. Check your local listings as broadcast dates and times may vary. This program can be used up to one year after it is recorded off the air.)

Watch Online
Watch the entire program online after the program airs. (Grades 6-8, 9-12)

Julian the Trailblazer
Read a summary of Julian's life to discover how he persevered against all odds to succeed and find out what he did to mentor other black chemists and further civil rights. (Grades 6-8, 9-12)

Do We Need Julian Today?
Consider to what degree the racism Julian endured still holds sway in the scientific world, 32 years after his death, in this article by chemist and racism expert Donna Nelson. (Grades 6-8, 9-12)

The Producer's Story
Get a behind-the-scenes look at how the "Forgotten Genius" producer made a documentary on a scientist about whom little was known. (Grades 6-8, 9-12)

Career Milestones
Discover some of the highlights in Julian's career in this slide show time line spanning 1929 to the present. (Flash plug-in required; printable version available.) (Grades 6-8, 9-12)

Julian Speaks
Hear Percy Julian himself in these audio excerpts from a 1965 speech. (Flash plug-in required; printable version available.) (Grades 3-5, 6-8, 9-12)

Those Who Knew Him
Listen in as six people who were close to Julian—including a former student, his coworkers, and his son—recount stories of his life and struggles. (Flash plug-in required.) (Grades 6-8, 9-12)

Nature's Pharmacy
Learn about some plants, animals, bacteria, and fungi that have been synthesized for human benefit. (Flash plug-in required; printable version available.) (Grades 6-8, 9-12)

Build a Steroid
Follow the steps a chemist takes to synthesize a starter chemical compound (diosgenin) into a steroid (adrenal hormone cortisone). (Flash plug-in required; printable version available.) (Grades 9-12)

Teacher's Guide
In this classroom activity, students visit stations to investigate physical and chemical changes and then apply what they have learned to a story about physical and chemical changes that occur in everyday life. (Grades 6-8)

Program Transcript
Find a complete narration for this program after broadcast.

Plus Watch a Preview and Links and Books.

http://www.pbs.org/nova/julian

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Funding for NOVA is provided by the Howard Hughes Medical Institute, the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, and public television viewers..

Major funding for "Forgotten Genius" is provided by the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation, the National Science Foundation, and the National Endowment for the Humanities, with additional funding provided by The Camille and Henry Dreyfus Foundation, the American Chemical Society, American Playhouse, and Mr. and Mrs. William G. Brown.

*This material is based upon work supported by the National Science Foundation under grant number 0229297. Any opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the National Science Foundation.