CBS 3 And The Franklin Institute Announce Forecasting, Science Education Partnership
CBS 3 Named Official Weather Station of The Franklin Institute;
Partners Celebrate with Free Family IMAX Screening of "Tornado Alley" on National Weathercasters' Day, Sunday, February 5th
Philadelphia, February 1, 2012 – CBS 3, Philadelphia's first television station, and The Franklin Institute, Pennsylvania's most visited museum, announced a long-term partnership today that will make Channel 3 the official weather station of The Institute, according to Jon Hitchcock, President and General Manager of CBS 3 and The CW Philly 57, and Dennis Wint, President and CEO of The Franklin Institute. Both organizations also announced that they will be collaborators in weather science educational efforts locally.
As part of the partnership, CBS 3 has installed a fully-functional Weather Station at the museum which will monitor temperature, humidity, wind speed and direction around the clock to provide data for both the CBS 3 meteorologists and The Franklin Institute. In addition, a High Definition camera has been placed on the Benjamin Franklin Parkway that will provide panoramic views in all seasons of The Franklin Institute, one of the region's most iconic landmarks, for weathercasts on both CBS 3 and sister station, The CW Philly. For a sneak peak at the weather images, go to www.CBSPhilly.com/ficam and click on Time-Lapse.
In addition to increased forecasting capabilities, the partnership calls for an in-depth commitment to weather science education locally. CBS 3 Meteorologists
Kathy Orr, Kate Bilo, Katie Fehlinger, Justin Drabick and Carol Erickson will regularly host The Weather Show at The Institute and meet with regional teachers at its Educators' Night Out to discuss the importance of adding meteorology to the curriculum in local schools. CBS 3's weather team will also host local students this summer as part of The Institute's Weather Camp program. Students will spend the day with the station's meteorologists, seeing first-hand how the forecasts are prepared and delivered. The Franklin Institute's Chief Astronomer Derrick Pitts will also team up with the CBS 3 weather team on educational efforts, both at The Institute and on CBS 3.
"Our team at CBS 3 is excited about this unique opportunity that will encourage students to further explore the science of weather," Hitchcock says. "Partnering with the world-class Institute demonstrates our mutual commitment to education and investing in our future."
"The Franklin Institute is known for both its famous Franklin Institute Forecast and for its ability to entertain and educate in all areas of science," Wint adds. "Our partnership with the top weather station in Philadelphia, CBS 3, will allow us to better serve the community and educate thousands about the science behind the weather."
To celebrate the new partnership, The Franklin Institute's Derrick Pitts and CBS 3's Kathy Orr will host a free screening of Tornado Alley in The Franklin Institute's IMAX Theatre on Sunday, February 5th, National Weathercasters Day at 10:15 a.m. More than 100 Family Four Packs to the movie will be given away for the special screening. To enter, visit www.CBSPhilly.com/contests to find a link to enter or search The Franklin Institute on Facebook.
Tornado Alley takes audiences on a heart-pounding mission to experience a tornado's destructive power. The film follows filmmaker and Storm Chasers host Sean Casey and the scientists of the VORTEX 2 project, the most ambitious effort ever made to understand the origins, structure, and evolution of tornadoes as they traverse Tornado Alley in their DOWs (Doppler on Wheels). Audiences will be swept away by the adrenaline and the science as the giant screen reveals the beauty and untamed power of these breathtaking weather events
CBS 3 (KYW-TV) and The CW Philly 57 (WPSG-TV) are part of CBS Television Stations, a division of CBS Corporation.
Located in the heart of Philadelphia, The Franklin Institute is a renowned and innovative leader in the field of science and technology learning, as well as a dynamic center of activity. Pennsylvania's most visited museum, it is dedicated to creating a passion for learning about science by offering access to hands-on science education. Considered one of the great science centers in the nation and the world, The Franklin Institute is known for blockbuster exhibits, one-of-a-kind theatrical experiences, and cutting-edge community learning with national influence. All are aimed at explaining science in ways that impact people's lives. For more information, visit www.fi.edu.
