To help find the best STEM-related jobs in the state, we get a little help from Georgia’s top investigative unit—the Georgia Bureau of Investigation. We take an old-school detective approach and discover Teachable Moments on DNA and latent prints. And we even learn what it takes to turn a former cheerleader into a crime scene investigator. Case closed!
The University of Georgia's College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences invites us on a tour of its Mountain Research and Education Center, where we interview Dr. Wayne Hanna, one of the foremost turf growers in the world! He’s grown grass for sports complexes as far away as the World Cup Soccer Tournament in South Africa, and as close to home as UGA’s own athletic fields. Teachable Moments center around agriculture, including photosynthesis, the nitrogen cycle, and more.
It’s a little-known fact that Georgia farms grew olives back in the 1800s. But it’s becoming a much bigger-known fact that this crop is making a comeback. Thanks to people like State Representative and farmer Jason Shaw, we learn why our state’s climate is so hospitable to the olive, encouraging a whole new industry. And while we’re visiting the southern side of the state, we take a ride on the Georgia Grown Trail to cultivate our knowledge about agritourism.
A trip to any mall will give you a look at thousands of items that weren’t created down the street. Many of them were imported from distant lands. And the Georgia Ports Authority in Savannah … the fourth largest port in the country … is the point of entry for, quite literally, tons of them. The Georgia Ports Authority has a job for just about any interest. They’re governed by logistics and driven by technology—technology that you might be able to learn by … playing video games. You’ll want to see this.
All animals should have it as good as the patients at the Georgia Sea Turtle Center, where the staff is doing some richly rewarding work! The highlight of our visit is an up-close look at a surgical procedure on an injured sea turtle named Sendac. In addition, we take a guided tour, shoot behind the scenes, and interview the center's director, nursing staff, and more. Teachable Moments include a definition and explanation of ecosystems, and a description of why honey is a great substance for treating turtle wounds.
We're given a VIP tour of some extremely impressive facilities within Gulfstream Aerospace, where we interview a wide range of employees. We begin with a focus on engineering but quickly learn there are a variety of employment opportunities available at Gulfstream. And if you’ve ever wondered how planes fly, this video will help, as our experts explain Bernoulli's Principle. Of course, once you know how they fly, you’ll want to know how fast they go. That’s why we also include explanations of the terms mach and supersonic.
There’s a lot to know about Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport. Sure, it’s the busiest airport in the world. And yes, it’s within a two-hour flight of 80% of the U.S. population. But perhaps the most important characteristic of this “airport city” is that it’s the biggest employer in the state with 58,000 jobs!
Jittery Joe's is a rapidly growing coffee chain based in Athens, and we get to explore their world via the fast-growing field of food science. We interview Roaster Master Charlie Mustard and learn the intricacies of what goes into making a great cup of “joe." It turns out there’s a lot of math and science behind it. So Teachable Moments focus on where coffee is grown, how huge this industry really is, and exactly how caffeine affects the body.
Fast Forward travels to the west side of the state to clear up some misconceptions about modern factories. We visit KIA Motors Manufacturing Georgia in West Point. This state-of-the-art facility rolls out one new car every minute, and we show the entire process—from steel coils all the way to the test track. And while we’re here, we learn who really runs the world (hint: it’s not the “cool kids”).
The “secret” to what makes the King of Pops pops so delicious isn’t actually a secret at all, as you’ll see in this episode. But the folks at this Atlanta-based company do put a lot of love into making their delicious treats. The owners themselves will give you the backstory of how King of Pops came to be, and why they have “fans” instead of customers. And if you’re looking for a career that utilizes social media, these folks have that covered too!
Make That Paper: Careers in Forestry is an online game designed to help high school students learn about the forestry industry and career employability skills.
It’s true that Georgia is about 2,000 miles from Hollywood, but the film and television industries are actually much closer. In fact, they're right here in Georgia. We talk with the people at Meddin Studios in Savannah to learn why film and television are responsible for Georgia’s fastest-growing job markets. We also find out what kinds of jobs are available, how to get started, and why the folks at Meddin love what they do.
Who says physics can’t be fun? They can be very entertaining when you use them to go zip lining. And that’s what we do at North Georgia Canopy Tours in Lula. Of course, we go zip lining with a focus on physics and environmental education. That means getting employees to explain how Sir Isaac Newton’s basic laws influence their jobs. Teachable Moments include explanations of Newton's First Law of Motion, friction, and watersheds.