My Resume
Profile & Introduction
I am a meteorologist, writer, guest speaker, university lecturer, published author, independent documentary film producer, teacher, Ph.D Student, instructor, on-air television host, and radio and TV personality.
Currently, I am the chief Meteorologist for Rogers Radio, on FM 95-7 (Halifax), 91-9 (Moncton), 88-9 (Saint John) which broadcasts across the entire Maritimes region with total potential audience of more than one and half million as well as 1310News in Ottawa. I also cohost the Wednesday Science Files on Rogers Maritime Radio, the Gary Doyle show in Kitchener, Ontario and write a popular science blog for Rogers.
I am a lecturer at Mount Saint Vincent University in department of Communication Studies. I also a Ph.D. student in education at Mount Saint Vincent University.
My third has just been published and released. It is about the effects of television on science understanding titled “Media Mediaocrity, the War on Science” published by Fernwood Publications. I have also written and published “Richard Zurawski’s Book of Maritime Weather” and “The Maritime Book of Climate Change” both through Pottersfield Press. In addition, I have had articles published by Addison Wesley in their educational series of books about science for children.
I have produced and syndicated three children’s television series, Wonder Why?, The Adventures of the AfterMath Crew and WiseWeatherWhys, as well as numerous documentaries (for Discovery, TVO, VisionTV and other domestic broadcasters) which have aired around the world. I have just completed a three hour mini series for Discovery HD about ancient weapons, which I produced, wrote and hosted.
I am an experienced guest and key note speaker and have had numerous engagements presenting topics such as Global Warming and the effects of television on science understanding. I am represented as a speaker by Limelight Communications and the Atlantic Speakers Bureau.
I also instruct a 13 week course on sailing meteorology for the Canadian Power and Sailing Squadron.
Current Work
Lecturer, Mount Saint Vincent University, Halifax — 2010 to Present
I am a lecturer in the department of Communication Studies at Mount Saint Vincent University. In the summer of 2010 I was hired to teach the fall and winter undergraduate courses, PBRL 3013, ‘Mass Media and Public Understanding’ and PBRL 2015, ‘Audio Visual Communications’ and PBRL 2013 ‘Communication Theory and Practices’. As a lecturer I am responsible for the course content, teaching and grading of the students undertaking the course and liaising with the department in all areas pertaining to the teaching of the course.
Chief Meteorologist and Science Expert, Rogers Maritime Radio, Halifax — 2005 to Present
Chief Meteorologist for Rogers Radio, Maritimes. Began producing daily weather reports for Rogers Radio in October 2005 when the station first went to air. The Stations are FM 95-7 (Halifax), 91-9 (Moncton), 88-9 (Saint John) and broadcast area ranges across the entire Maritimes region with total potential audience of more than one and half million. I also broadcast the weather for 1310News in Ottawa. Marine, travel and public forecasts are prepared three times each day and delivered to the four stations, in addition to providing the text forecast and the on air presentation of the forecasts. I also host the Wednesday Science Files on “Maritime Morning” on Rogers Maritime Radio and write a popular science blog about science and weather for Rogers once a week.
President, PAL Science Media Inc., Halifax — 1994 to 2010
President and owner of PAL Science Media Inc. an independent documentary production company located in Halifax. PAL specializes in science and history documentaries, children’s series for domestic and international broadcasters. Just completed production of a three hour limited mini-series for Discovery HD about ancient weapons, called M5 - Weapons of War which aired in mid 2010.
President, Zurawski Productions Inc., Halifax — 2006 to Present
President and owner of Zurawski productions Inc. a company set up to provide an outlet for my public speaking presentations and the books I write. I am currently publishing my third book through Fernwood Publications, entitled ‘Media Mediocrity - The Media War Against Science....How Television Makes You Stoopid!’, which will be released in the spring of 2011. I am also represented by Limelight Communications and the Atlantic Speakers Bureau as a keynote speaker for events across the Maritimes. I also instruct courses on weather for the Canadian Power and Sail Squadron.
Past Work Experience
Chief Meteorologist and on-air Meteorologist, Maritime Global Television, Halifax — 2007-2008
I was the chief meteorologist for Global TV in the Maritimes. I forecast, produced and presented the weather for the evening news and the late night news for Global’s Maritime television audience.
Interactive Writing Instructor and GED Instructor, NSCC 1999 - 2003
I set up a curriculum for new media/media writing and production with the Nova Scotia Community College on Truro. Teaching all aspects of the creative design for new and traditional media. The course was designed to integrate with all technical components of the Nova Scotia film and television industry, now the third largest in English Canada. In addition to media and new media courses, I also taught GED math and sciences preparation at the Nova Scotia Community College.
Chief Meteorologist and Science Specialist, ATV, Halifax — 1988 - 1994
Chief On Air Meteorologist and Science Specialist for four of the top rated news shows in the Maritimes, ATV's News One, Live at Five, The Six O'clock News and ATV Late News. Responsible for all aspects of weather production and presentation at ATV and in the course of the 6 years that I was with ATV I was responsible for all science related stories that came across the news desk. I also produced, wrote and hosted more than 200 in house science related stories for newscast. I was also the creator, writer and host of the internationally syndicated children’s science show, Wonder Why? which aired on CTV from 1990 to 1995.
Chief Meteorologist and Science Specialist, CBET, Windsor, Ontario — 1980 - 1988
Chief On Air Meteorologist and Science Reporter with CBC (CBET), Windsor, Ontario, an owned and operated CBC station from 1981 to 1988. During my tenure with the CBC I learned and honed my science reporting skills and wrote, hosted and produced more than 100 in-house science related stories.
Mathematics Instructor, St Clair College, Windsor, Ontario — 1986 - 1988
Mathematics Instructor for first and second students in St. Clair College.
High School Teacher, Mt Carmel Seminary, Niagara Falls, Ontario — 1974 - 1975
Teacher of grades nine, ten, eleven and twelve students in mathematics and physics at Mt Carmel Seminary in Niagara Falls, Ontario.
Production Credits and Descriptions
Wonder Why?: Children’s Science series, 65X30 minutes for CTV 1989-1994 (Creator, Writer, Host, Producer)
Chipheads: 1X60 minute documentary about computers for Discovery Channel 1995 (Creator, Writer, Director, Host, Producer)
Oceans: 3X60 minute mini-series for Discovery Channel 1996 (Creator, Director, Writer, Producer)
The Adventures of the AfterMath Crew Series 1, 2&3: Children’s math show 39X30 minutes for TVOntario 1998 to 2002(Creator, Writer, Host, Producer)
AfterMath InterActive: Mathematics CD for children for retail educational market 2000 (Creator, Director, Writer, Host, Producer)
Moving People: 1X60 minutes documentary about transportation for Discovery Channel 2000 (Creator, Director, Writer, Producer)
Rail Against the Machine: 4X60 minutes documentary min-series about hi-tech for Discovery Channel 2002 (Creator, Writer, Producer)
Mega Storms: 2X60 minute documentaries about the worst North Atlantic Storms for Discovery Channel 2003/4 (Creator, Director, Writer, Producer)
It Starts With Z: Finding Zarathushtra: 2X60 minutes for Vision TV about the History of the Persian Philosopher Zarathushtra, 2006 (Creator, Director, Writer, Producer)
WiseWeatherWhys: 65X2 minute weather shorts for kids for Discovery Kids 2005/6 (Creator, Voice, Writer, Director, Producer)
M5 - Weapons of War: 3X60 minutes for Discovery HD about the making and the use of the greatest ancient weapons in history. 2010 (Creator, Writer, Host and Producer)
Descriptions for Selected Productions
M5 - Weapons of War (summer 2010) is a three hour pilot miniseries commissioned by Discovery HD of Canada about the greatest ancient weapons in history. The concept of the show is to build, test and use the weapon and place it within the proper historical context. The three episodes are the Spanish Arquebus, the Mongolian Composite Bow and the Damascus Sword.
Wise WeatherWhys is a series of 65 x 2 minute broadcast weather shorts for kids aged 6-12. I wrote, voiced and produced the series which explains a myriad of weather facts and happenings ranging from Frost to Tornadoes to Fog to Hurricanes. Produced for Discovery Kids Canada.
The Adventures of the AfterMath Crew (Cycles 1,2&3) is a series of a children’s half hour television shows about mathematics now numbering 39 half hours. Beginning in 1998 I have produced broadcast and educational versions of AfterMath for Global TV, TVOntario, ACCESS, APTN, TeleQuebec and SCN who were all involved as licensing domestic broadcasters. Internationally AfterMath is now available in more than 20 countries including South Africa, the Middle East and the United States. I was the producer, writer and host of the series. AfterMath TV also has an extensive print teachers’ guide for the educational market, which allows for a springboard into the grade 3-7 math curriculum and is designed to integrate with the educational versions of the TV offering. Cycle 1, 2 &3 were produced for 1.3 million each.
AfterMath InterActive is an interactive edutainment CD based on the AfterMath TV shows. AfterMath InterActive is now available in the Nova Scotia and Quebec educational systems and is being marketed as part of the AfterMath suite of products. AfterMath InterActive comes with an extensive teachers’ guide for grades 3-7 and both the CD and the print material is part of the AfterMath suite of products. AfterMath InterActive was designed to conform to the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics guidelines for easy integration into the North American school systems. The production budget was $680K Canadian.
Mega Storms is two hour, half million dollar series about the most ferocious storms on Earth, late season Northeastern Atlantic Hurricanes affecting shipping, exploration and coastal regions. Discovery Canada was the commissioning broadcaster and I was the creator, producer and writer of the series.
Finding Zarathushtra: It Starts With Z is a two hour mini-series about the life time and significance of the Zoroastrian faith seen through the eyes of a modern day community of some eight families now living in Nova Scotia. Spring boarding into the history, faith, philosophy of the Zoroastrian faith, this landmark series was delivered to Vision TV in 2005 and had a half million dollar budget.
Wonder Why? (1989-1994) I created the concept, created shows and hosted what is arguably Canada’s most watched children’s show about science. It’s 65 episodes are still on air domestically and are now syndicated and sold to more than 60 countries world wide and. It has won numerous accolades, including the Iris Award, Canadian Children's Program Award, and three Can Pros. Gross sales of “Wonder Why?” excluding American and Canadian markets exceed 1.5 million Canadian. Wonder Why? was my first children’s science show and his introduction to production outside the confines of the newsroom.
Books
Media Mediocrity - The Media War Against Science....How Television Makes You Stoopid! published by Fernwood Publications (March 2011). It is based on my thesis “How Does Television Represent Science?” and is intended for the informed reader and a supplement for media studies in a post secondary setting.
The Maritime Book of Climate Change: Published and released by Pottersfield Press and distributed by Nimbus Publishing (July 2008). The book is all about the coming changes in the climate and how the Maritimes will be affected, ranging from increased storm activity to rising ocean levels and how we will have to address the changes.
Richard Zurawski’s Book of Maritime Weather: Published and released by Pottersfield Press and distributed by Nimbus Publishing (April 2007). The book is all about the incredibly diverse and sometimes perverse nature of Canadian Weather in the Maritimes.
It Starts With Z: Zarathushtra: In 2005 after the principal photography of the Zarathushtra project which took the crew to San Jose, London, Mumbai, Udwada, Shiraz, Isfahan, Bam, Yazd, Kerman, the companion book to the mini-series was written and packaged with the DVD mini-series. The book takes the reader all around the world discovering the fascinating and intriguing history and culture of the Zarathushtis and the Persian Empires.
Education
currently enrolled in the Mount saint vincent university Ph.D. programme in Education
Research M.A.(Ed) Mt. Saint Vincent University. Thesis was ‘How Does Television Represent Science?’
Admitted to the M.Sc. Physics program, University of Windsor (incomplete)
B.Sc. Physics and Mathematics, University of Windsor
Diplomas in Meteorology and Advanced Meteorology, Environment Canada
Additional undergraduate courses in Geology, Biology, German, Philosophy and Astronomy at the University of Toronto.
Skills
Excellent management and human resource skills, able to hire and administrate large and complex production teams, projects and budgets that have ranged from under 100 thousand to 2 million Canadian dollars.
Have a great understanding and familiarity with trends in documentary, animation, interactive and children’s programming in Canada, and abroad.
Academic experience at a secondary and post secondary level (College and University) in instruction, curriculum creation, teaching, student needs assessment, management and implementation of course outlines.
A proven leader with effective communication skills, able to build bridges to diverse production, broadcast and marketing communities.
Understand all aspects the broadcast industry from both the perspective of the broadcaster and the independent producer. Intimate knowledge of funding, production, costs and timetables of television and interactive children’s and information and educational productions. Able to manage and delegate diverse groups of individuals to effectively attain production goals and targets, especially as it relates to television production.
Understanding of issues related to teaching, from writing and production to mathematics and science, and the role that the media, particularly the role television plays in education for children and adults. Have a keen understanding of how children relate to programmes on television and other media, especially educational programming. Able to effectively liaise with education specialists, broadcasters and producers.
Excellent creative and technical writing skills. Able to write journalistic spot news pieces, mini-docs, promos, as well as longer more crafted pieces for broadcast. Excellent computer and computer graphics/animation skills and abilities.
Fluent in English and German, with basic skills in French.
Cyber Addresses
Web Pages: www.richardzurawski.ca. www.palsciencemedia.ca
Facebook: Richard Zurawski, M5-Weapons-of-War
References
Available upon Request