Science programme to have new dimension

Press, 22 May 1987, Page 15

Science programme to have new dimension

There will be a new dimension to “Fast Forward,” TVNZ’s pacy, magazine-style science and technology show, when it returns for a new season tonight at 8.30 on One.

Not only will the Christchurch-based programme continue to generate its own New Zealand stories, it will also include the best of the material from Australia’s leading science and technology series, “Beyond 2000”

“The ‘Beyond 2000’ team travel all over the world for their stories,” says the “Fast Forward” producer, Larry Podmore, “and this will al-

low us to give a real international flavour to our programme. “The kind of items viewers can expect to see are stories on, for example, how Japanese women have their eyes westernised; a new leg prosthesis from Sweden, on laser acupuncture, a look at the latest drink/ drive aid — a sniffer torch which has been developed in America and acts as both a torch and a breathalyser, and the first computer in the world to write in Chinese.”

“Fast Foward” has a new reporter this series, 26-year-old Julie Colquhoun who joins old

hands Jim Hopkins and Peter Llewellyn, but the show has not changed in style.

“It will still have the nice look it has had previously, and be as bright and breezy,” says Podmore. “There will be the same varied mix of items appealing to a wide-ranging audience.” Podmore says he tries to average five items per programme; one of these will now be drawn from the “Beyond 2000” series.

“We shoot stories all around New Zealand and try and reflect science and technology happenings up and down, around and across the country. There’s a broad range of

exciting research work going on and, funnily enough, a number of our stories come out of Dunedin this year.” Podmore says the Government’s user-pays policy in regard to science and technology has had some impact on “Fast Forward.”

“People are now more anxious to publicise their ventures, but at the same time research is a lot more commercially sensitive and timing is critical. It’s a double-edged sword, really.” “Fast Foward” screens tonight at 8.30 on One.