'Pulse of the Planet' producer Jim Metzner to lead lecture and workshops at Virginia Tech
Jim Metzner, a producer who has traveled the world capturing sound for nearly 40 years, will visit the Virginia Tech campus to lead several special events, including “The Magic of Sound: An ArtsFusion Lecture,” in the Squires Student Center Haymarket Theatre on Nov. 27 at 5 p.m. Metzner’s visit is presented by Virginia Tech’s Institute for Creativity, Arts, and Technology and the College of Science.
Metzner is best known as the producer of “Pulse of the Planet,” a daily short-format series featuring distinctive on-location ambient sounds to illustrate its subjects. His on-campus presentation, part of the Institute of Creativity, Art, and Technology’s ArtsFusion lecture series, will explore the world of sound through remarkable audio and investigation into the mysteries of listening, demonstrating how people are informed and enriched by the varied pulses of the planet.
Metzner will also lead two workshops during his visit. “Communicating Research Effectively: Understanding Your Audience,” will be held on Nov. 27 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the Graduate Life Center multipurpose room. “Capturing Stories,” a separate workshop focusing on the art of interviewing, documenting, and collecting stories, will be offered from 9-11 a.m. on Nov. 28 in STUDIOne, the Institute for Creativity, Arts, and Technology studio, at 460 Turner Street, on the ground floor of Collegiate Square, Blacksburg, Va. All events are free and open to the public. No registration is required.
Metzner has been producing sound-rich radio programs since 1977, beginning with his short format series, “You're Hearing Boston,” produced for CBS station WEEI-FM. His other award-winning series include “You're Hearing America,” “The Sounds of Science,” and “Voices of Innovation.” “Pulse of the Planet,” which has been on the air since 1988, is heard each day by one million people on 300 public and commercial stations in the U.S., and around the world over Armed Forces Radio and the Voice of America.
He has produced features for National Public Radio’s “Marketplace,” “All Things Considered,” and “Morning Edition.” Metzner has produced audio and multimedia projects for National Geographic, Discovery Channel, the American Museum of Natural History, and many others. His work has been featured in Wired magazine, The New York Times, National Geographic, and The Wall Street Journal, as well as on “CBS Evening News” and NBC’s “Today.”
Metzner has received major grants from the National Science Foundation, NASA, and the National Endowment for the Humanities. His most recent project is the Kids’ Science Challenge, a nationwide competition for third to sixth graders funded by the National Science Foundation.
For the event in Haymarket Theatre, free parking is available after 5 p.m. in the Squires Lot, located at the corner of College Avenue and Otey Street or the Architecture Annex Lot also on Otey Street. With a visitor’s pass, parking is available for the Graduate Life Center event in the Squires Lot, located at the corner of College Avenue and Otey Street, or the Architecture Annex Lot also on Otey Street. Parking meters within the Squires Lot will need to be paid. A visitor’s pass may be obtained Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Visitor Information Center, located at 965 Prices Fork Road, near the intersection of Prices Fork and University City Boulevard next to the Inn at Virginia Tech and Skelton Conference Center. A visitor’s pass may also be obtained from the Virginia Tech Police Station, located on Sterrett Drive, outside of the Visitor Information Center hours. Find more parking information online or call 540-231-3200. Additional downtown Blacksburg parking information can be found online.
Metzner’s visit is sponsored by the Institute for Advanced Study in the College of Science; Michael Hochella, University Distinguished Professor in the Department of Geosciences, College of Science; Virginia Tech’s Graduate School; and the Department of Theatre and Cinema in the School of Performing Arts and Cinema, College of Liberal Arts and Human Studies.
