Member Profile #11: Classroom Encounters

Name: Rita Chang
Organization: Classroom Encounters
Website: www.classroomencounters.org
Hometown: Natick, MA
Artistic Discipline: Film/Education
Fractured Atlas Member Since: May 2006
Fractured Atlas Services Used: Fiscal Sponsorship

Today, we’re featuring Rita Chang and her organization Classroom Encounters, a group that brings world-class global change scientists, teachers, and teenage students together to create engaging, cutting edge, and interactive multimedia (DVDs) and supporting educational materials to improve how science is taught and communicated. What does this have to do with art, you ask? Well, this goes to show you how open Fractured Atlas is in terms of its membership. Since Chang works within an artistic discipline — film in this case — she is indeed a creative professional, thereby fitting in comfortably amongst our 5000+ members. It also shows how art doesn’t have to be used for art’s sake. In this case, Chang is using an artform to promote and enhance another discipline entirely — science in this case.

Recently, Classroom Encounters released a series of interactive DVDs featuring leading scientists and teenage students speaking about the latest discoveries regarding our changing planet and climate. The DVDs also featured student-inspired art and music for classroom and library use. Classroom Encounters is now working on teaching guides and materials to accompany these DVDs.

Chang says of Fractured Atlas, “Our membership has been crucial to our success. We are able to receive grant support yet stay focused on creating our art (DVDs and teaching materials on global change) rather than focused on running a non-profit agency and infrastructure.”

We asked Rita a few questions about her organization and its work….

What/who are your biggest influences?
Rita states that her influences are, “The planet’s heroes and teachers, world-class field scientists like E.O. Wilson at Harvard and others who are featured in our DVDs, who care deeply about nature and the planet, are great communicators, and who are inspired teachers and mentors to us all.”

What have been your greatest successes to date?
Rita and Classroom Encounters have published five DVDs in their climate and environmental science series, Classroom Encounters with Global Change Scientists. Rita notes that, “Our productions won the attention of Laurie David, the producer of An Inconvenient Truth.” As a result of this meeting, Classroom Encounters earned a segment on Channel 5/ABC-Boston (watch the video here) and has since been recommended by libraries, school, and public television executives. Steven M. Bass, the president and C.E.O. of Oregon Public Broadcasting had this to say: “These videos not only communicate the essence of science, but also the passion of today’s leading scientists. These high-quality productions will help develop the next generation of scientifically literate citizens.” Classroom Encounters also had a premiere screening at an Imax Theater in Boston and were featured in a Boston Globe article.

Finish this sentence: The artist’s role in society is….
“…. to arouse, engage, and transform people in deep and personal ways, and in ways that connect us to that which is larger than ourselves.”

How can we see, experience, or learn more about your work?
Check out their website, www.classroomencounters.org, to learn more about their collaborations with scientists, teens, and teachers, and/or to purchase their DVDs, which would support the next phase of their work – putting these resources into the hands of teachers. On the site, you can also view video clips, visit their Scientists’ Gallery and Student Gallery, and find teaching resources and examples of student art, film, music, and resources.