National Geographic Explorers and Nobel Laureates Are Featured in Second Season of ‘The Big Idea’ Speaker Series

WASHINGTON (Oct. 10, 2012)—National Geographic Live and the Nobel Prize Series have announced the second year of their partnership on the speaker series “The Big Idea,” featuring Nobel Laureates in conversation with National Geographic explorers. As with last year’s groundbreaking inaugural series, the theme will be exploration. The venue for the three ticketed evening events, part of the National Geographic Live series for 2012, is Grosvenor Auditorium at National Geographic headquarters in Washington, D.C.

“Blue Holes & Dark Energy: Mapping the Unknown,” opens the series on Wednesday, Oct. 10, at 7 p.m. Adam Reiss, 2011 Nobel Laureate in Physics, and National Geographic’s 2011 Explorer of the Year Kenny Broad will discuss the adventure of exploring unknown realms and how their explorations provide clarity both on human origins and the future of the cosmos. Senior Executive Producer of National Geographic Specials John Bredar will moderate.

The second event in the series, “Locust Swarms and Ozone Holes,” on Friday, Nov. 30, at 7 p.m., pairs 1996 Nobel Laureate in Chemistry Mario Molina with behavioral ecologist Iain Couzin, a National Geographic Emerging Explorer. Both together and separately, their scientific research is making an impact on public policy. Boyd Matson, leading broadcast journalist for National Geographic and host of National Geographic Weekend radio show, will moderate.

“What Makes a Society Successful: A Look at Human and Chimpanzee Communities,” rounds out the series on Tuesday, Dec. 11, at 7 p.m. Roger Myerson, 2007 Nobel Laureate in Economic Sciences, and Jill Pruetz, biological anthropologist and National Geographic Emerging Explorer, will share insights into information sharing, conflict resolution and social cohesion within human and chimpanzee societies, with an eye toward how each species uses cognition to improve its society. Matson will moderate.

“The pairing of Nobel Laureates and National Geographic explorers is a natural one, driven by both organizations’ appreciation and support for science and exploration. We are excited about the second year of this series and hope that together we can spur enlightening conversations about human achievement and achieve National Geographic’s mission of inspiring people to care about the planet,” said National Geographic Vice President for Public Programs Greg McGruder.

“We are delighted to continue this partnership with the National Geographic Society and ‘The Big Idea’ speaker series. With the unique and inspiring combination of Nobel Laureates and National Geographic explorers, the events broaden knowledge and interest in the Nobel Prize- awarded achievements and their impact on society,” said Camilla Hylt?n-Cavallius, CEO for Nobel Media.

Tickets to each event are $20 for National Geographic members and $22 for the general public. Package tickets for the three-part series are $57 for National Geographic members and $63 for the general public. Each event will be followed by a reception at National Geographic headquarters. Tickets are on sale at www.nglive.org.

About the Nobel Prize Series and Nobel Media

The Nobel Prize Series encompasses broad lecture programs and is managed by Nobel Media AB, the company responsible for managing and developing media rights in connection with the Nobel Prize. Nobel Media aims to spread knowledge and interest in the Nobel Prize-awarded achievements to a global audience, through digital and broadcast media, publishing and events.

Nobel Media?, Nobel Prize? and Nobel Prize Series? are registered trademarks of the Nobel Foundation.

About National Geographic Live

National Geographic Live is a branded series of events including live concerts, films and dynamic presentations by today’s leading explorers, scientists, filmmakers and photographers, covering a wide range of topics such as exploration and adventure; wildlife and habitat; natural phenomena; and relevant issues such as climate change and energy conservation. Proceeds from speaker series ticket sales help fund future National Geographic initiatives in field research, exploration and education. For more information, visit www.nglive.org.

Contacts:

Merci Olsson

Nobel Prize Series

+46 738523595

merci.olsson@nobelmedia.se

Carrie Engel

National Geographic Society

(202) 457-8449

cengel@ngs.org

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National Geographic Explorers and Nobel Laureates Are Featured in Second Season of ‘The Big Idea’ Speaker Series

WASHINGTON (Oct. 10, 2012)—National Geographic Live and the Nobel Prize Series have announced the second year of their partnership on the speaker series “The Big Idea,” featuring Nobel Laureates in conversation with National Geographic explorers. As with last year’s groundbreaking inaugural series, the theme will be exploration. The venue for the three ticketed evening events, part of the National Geographic Live series for 2012, is Grosvenor Auditorium at National Geographic headquarters in Washington, D.C.

“Blue Holes & Dark Energy: Mapping the Unknown,” opens the series on Wednesday, Oct. 10, at 7 p.m. Adam Reiss, 2011 Nobel Laureate in Physics, and National Geographic’s 2011 Explorer of the Year Kenny Broad will discuss the adventure of exploring unknown realms and how their explorations provide clarity both on human origins and the future of the cosmos. Senior Executive Producer of National Geographic Specials John Bredar will moderate.

The second event in the series, “Locust Swarms and Ozone Holes,” on Friday, Nov. 30, at 7 p.m., pairs 1996 Nobel Laureate in Chemistry Mario Molina with behavioral ecologist Iain Couzin, a National Geographic Emerging Explorer. Both together and separately, their scientific research is making an impact on public policy. Boyd Matson, leading broadcast journalist for National Geographic and host of National Geographic Weekend radio show, will moderate.

“What Makes a Society Successful: A Look at Human and Chimpanzee Communities,” rounds out the series on Tuesday, Dec. 11, at 7 p.m. Roger Myerson, 2007 Nobel Laureate in Economic Sciences, and Jill Pruetz, biological anthropologist and National Geographic Emerging Explorer, will share insights into information sharing, conflict resolution and social cohesion within human and chimpanzee societies, with an eye toward how each species uses cognition to improve its society. Matson will moderate.

“The pairing of Nobel Laureates and National Geographic explorers is a natural one, driven by both organizations’ appreciation and support for science and exploration. We are excited about the second year of this series and hope that together we can spur enlightening conversations about human achievement and achieve National Geographic’s mission of inspiring people to care about the planet,” said National Geographic Vice President for Public Programs Greg McGruder.

“We are delighted to continue this partnership with the National Geographic Society and ‘The Big Idea’ speaker series. With the unique and inspiring combination of Nobel Laureates and National Geographic explorers, the events broaden knowledge and interest in the Nobel Prize- awarded achievements and their impact on society,” said Camilla Hylt?n-Cavallius, CEO for Nobel Media.

Tickets to each event are $20 for National Geographic members and $22 for the general public. Package tickets for the three-part series are $57 for National Geographic members and $63 for the general public. Each event will be followed by a reception at National Geographic headquarters. Tickets are on sale at www.nglive.org.

About the Nobel Prize Series and Nobel Media

The Nobel Prize Series encompasses broad lecture programs and is managed by Nobel Media AB, the company responsible for managing and developing media rights in connection with the Nobel Prize. Nobel Media aims to spread knowledge and interest in the Nobel Prize-awarded achievements to a global audience, through digital and broadcast media, publishing and events.

Nobel Media?, Nobel Prize? and Nobel Prize Series? are registered trademarks of the Nobel Foundation.

About National Geographic Live

National Geographic Live is a branded series of events including live concerts, films and dynamic presentations by today’s leading explorers, scientists, filmmakers and photographers, covering a wide range of topics such as exploration and adventure; wildlife and habitat; natural phenomena; and relevant issues such as climate change and energy conservation. Proceeds from speaker series ticket sales help fund future National Geographic initiatives in field research, exploration and education. For more information, visit www.nglive.org.

Contacts:

Merci Olsson

Nobel Prize Series

+46 738523595

merci.olsson@nobelmedia.se

Carrie Engel

National Geographic Society

(202) 457-8449

cengel@ngs.org

###

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National Geographic Brings National Geographic Channel’s Landmark Series ‘Alien Deep’ to DVD and Blu-Ray on Sept. 18

WASHINGTON (Sept. 14, 2012)—No place on Earth remains more mysterious and alien than our ocean’s deepest waters. Now viewers will be able to join legendary ocean explorer and discover of the Titanic Dr. Robert Ballard as he explores the planet’s most foreign and otherworldly places in “Alien Deep,” a new five-part series from National Geographic. The series will be available on DVD and Blu-Ray Tuesday, Sept. 18, 2012, for $27.99 (SRP) on shopNG.com, in stores where videos are sold or by calling (800) 437-5521.

With cutting-edge tools and amazing new camera technologies, National Geographic embarks on its latest voyage of deep exploration — thousands of feet beneath the waves — to a hidden world of new ecosystems, new species and new wonders never seen before. The episodes are “It’s Alive,” “Wrecks of the Abyss,” “Ocean’s Fury,” “Inner vs. Outer Space” and “Fires of Creation.”

Ballard, one of the world’s foremost oceanographers, has worked in the field of underwater exploration for more than three decades. In addition to locating Titanic, he found the German battleship Bismarck and P.T. 109, John F. Kennedy’s naval boat from World War II, and he has explored the British ocean liner Lusitania.

“I’ve dedicated my life to exploring the unknown. I’ve been places no one has ever gone. I’ve seen life no human eye has ever seen,” said Ballard. “But even after 50 years at sea I’m as fascinated with the deep as I was on my very first expedition. You want to know my greatest discovery? Well, it’s the one I’m about to make.”

In “Alien Deep,” Ballard takes viewers around the globe to explore the many fascinating ways that the oceans expand our understanding of life on Earth and impact our future. Audiences will go:

Down to the coldest Antarctic waters, where hot hydrothermal outlets support columns of life — including a newly discovered species of crabs.To the warm waters of the Pacific, where high-tech new experiments in sustainable fish farming are being conducted to grow fish without a measurable impact on coastal ecosystems.Behind the scenes at Lloyd’s of London, one of the world’s largest maritime insurance companies, to learn how rogue waves and bigger storms threaten global trade.On board scientific ships that are investigating areas that have never been explored by humans, as scientists try to figure out why our planet is ripe for life.

The DVD release also includes the full bonus program “Deep Secrets: The Ballard Gallipoli Expedition” and is timed for release with a children’s book, “Alien Deep: Exploring the Mysterious World of Hydrothermal Vents,” by Bradley Hague (ISBN 978-1-4263-1067-6), on sale now.

About National Geographic Channels

Based at the National Geographic Society headquarters in Washington, D.C., the National Geographic Channels US are a joint venture between National Geographic and Fox Cable Networks. The Channels contribute to the National Geographic Society’s commitment to exploration, conservation and education with smart, innovative programming and profits that directly support its mission. Launched in January 2001, National Geographic Channel (NGC) celebrated its fifth anniversary with the debut of NGC HD.  In 2010, the wildlife and natural history cable channel Nat Geo WILD was launched, and in 2011, the Spanish-language network Nat Geo Mundo was unveiled. The Channels have carriage with all of the nation’s major cable, telco and satellite television providers, with NGC currently available in 84 million U.S. homes. Globally, National Geographic Channel is available in 440 million homes in 171 countries and 38 languages. For more information, visit www.natgeotv.com.

About National Geographic Cinema Ventures

Geographic Cinema Ventures is responsible for production and distribution of giant-screen, 3D and specialty films. Over the last decade, NGCV has produced or released a number of successful films, including Academy Award-nominated documentaries “Restrepo” and “The Story of the Weeping Camel”; giant-screen award-winning films “Sea Monsters: A Prehistoric Adventure,” “U2 3D,” “Mysteries of Egypt” and “Forces of Nature”; and feature-length films “The Last Lions” and “Life in a Day.” Lisa Truitt is president of NGCV, and Mark Katz is president of NGCV distribution. For more information, visit www.nationalgeographic.com/movies.

About Vivendi Entertainment

Vivendi Entertainment is a full-service independent film, television, DVD and digital distribution company operating in the United States and Canada. Representing a vast range of genres including action, comedy, thriller, urban, family, fitness and stand-up comedies, Vivendi Entertainment has become a favorite distribution partner for independent content providers. The company has built an extensive catalog of over 3,000 titles, and its customer-centric business model was founded on the principles of collaboration and financial transparency. The company provides sales, marketing and distribution services to many of the home entertainment industry’s most prestigious brands, including: The Weinstein Company, World Wrestling Entertainment, Classic Media, RHI, Shout! Factory, Salient and Code Black. Vivendi Entertainment is a division of Universal Music Group Distribution, the award-winning sales, marketing and distribution arm of Universal Music Group, the world’s leading music company.

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“Alien Deep”

Street Date: Sept. 18, 2012

Suggested Retail Price (DVD): $27.99

Suggested Retail Price (Blu-ray): $39.99

Run Time: Approx. 240 Minutes

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