March 23-24,
2000
ITEM
106-2007-R0300 Authorization to
Offer a Master of Fine Arts in Science and Natural History Filmmaking; Montana
State University-Bozeman
THAT: The Board of Regents of Higher Education authorizes Montana
State University-Bozeman to offer a Master of Fine Arts in Science and Natural
History Filmmaking.
EXPLANATION: Montana State
University-Bozeman proposes a unique, inter-disciplinary Master of Fine Arts
degree in Science and Natural History Filmmaking in response to the need to
bridge the gap between science, scientists and the public. This sixty (60)
credit program will be the first
program of its type in the United States and, to our knowledge, the world. The primary thrust of the program is to
train new generations of film makers who are proficient not only in the film
making arts, but also in the subject matter about which the film makers
present: namely, science and natural history.
The public understanding of science has been identified as a top priority by the Committee on Science
in its commissioned report to the United States House of Representatives, AUnlocking Our Future: Toward a New
National Science Policy Study,@ 1998, F. James Sensenbrenner, Jr., Chairman. The gap between science and the public continues to grow as
people understand less and less about what scientists do. This proposed program undertakes the task
of educating film makers who are going to be making documentaries in the sciences
and natural history. There is
overwhelming support for such a program from principals at the National Academy
of Sciences, and by managing directors at The Discovery Channel, the Learning
Channel, NOVA (PBS), and National
Geographic Television.
The Bozeman campus of Montana State
University (MSU) has an unusually high potential to design and offer a program
of this nature because of the unique convergence of a top-ranked film school
that has several faculty who are internationally recognized natural history
filmmakers, exceptionally strong science programs (biology, ecology, chemistry,
physics and environmental studies), and because of its location in theNorthern
Rockies, close to Yellowstone and Glacier National Parks. In addition, MSU has a nationally recognized
engineering college where both students and faculty are engaged in cutting edge
research in both science and engineering.
Proposed Starting Date: Summer 2001
