Editing Science Friday

{{Short description|American radio program}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=March 2025}}
{{Italic title}}
{{Infobox radio show
| show_name          = Science Friday
| image              = Science Friday logo.svg
| imagesize          = 200px
| caption            = 
| other_names        = SciFri
| format             = [[talk radio|talk]]
| runtime            = approx. 110 min.
| country            = United States
| language           = [[English language|English]]
| home_station       = 
| syndicates         = [[WNYC Studios]]
| presenter          = [[Ira Flatow]]
| creator            = ScienceFriday, Inc.
| director           = Charles Bergquist
| executive_producer = Ira Flatow
| record_location    = [[New York City]]
| first_aired        = {{Start date|1991|10}}
| last_aired         = 
| audio_format       = [[Stereophonic]]
| opentheme          = 
| endtheme           = 
| website            = {{URL|http://www.sciencefriday.com}}
| podcast            = 
|executive director=Danielle Dana}}

'''''Science Friday''''' (known as '''''SciFri''''' for short) is a weekly call-in [[talk show]] that broadcasts each Friday on public radio stations, distributed by [[WNYC Studios]], and carried on over 500 public radio stations. ''SciFri'' is hosted by science journalist [[Ira Flatow]] and Flora Lichtman and is produced by the Science Friday Initiative. The program is divided into two one-hour programs, with each hour ending with a complete sign-off. The focus of each program is news and information on [[science]], [[nature]], [[medicine]], and [[technology]]. The show originated as the Friday episode of the daily call-in talk show ''[[Talk of the Nation]]'', but was spun off as a series in its own right when ''Talk of the Nation'' was canceled in June 2013.

The ''Science Friday'' radio program is produced by the Science Friday Initiative, a [[501(c)(3)]] organization. The Science Friday Initiative is an independently run organization with a governing Board of Directors and Executive Director. In addition to the radio program and podcasts, the organization creates educational and digital content, finds underwriting for the program, and hosts public science events.

''Science Friday'' is also available in a [[podcast]]ing format and is one of the most popular iTunes downloads, frequently in the top 15 downloads each week. ''SciFri'' podcasts are downloaded over 23 million times per year.

''SciFri'' has broadcast excerpts from the annual [[Ig Nobel Prize]] ceremony on the Friday after [[Thanksgiving]].<ref>[http://www.sciencefriday.com/program/archives/200711233 Science Friday Archives: The 2007 Ig Nobel Awards<!-- Bot generated title -->] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071226061409/http://www.sciencefriday.com/program/archives/200711233 |date=2007-12-26 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.improbable.com/2015/11/27/ig-nobel-day-after-thanksgiving-broadcast-on-science-friday-3|title=Ig Nobel day-after-Thanksgiving broadcast on Science Friday|work=www.improbable.com|date=27 November 2015 |access-date=September 8, 2016}}</ref>

==Funding==
The Science Friday Initiative accepts tax-deductible donations on behalf of the radio program.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.scifri.org/mission.html|title=Science Friday Initiative: Our Mission|work=scifri.org|access-date=September 6, 2012|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121013002311/http://scifri.org/mission.html|archive-date=October 13, 2012}}</ref>

''Science Friday'' is funded by stations fees that broadcast the program, by individual donors, by advertising underwriters, and by foundation grants including the [[Alfred P. Sloan Foundation]], the [[Research Corporation for Science Advancement]], the [[Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation]], and Heising-Simons Foundation.<ref>{{cite web|title=Science Friday Initiative: Thank You!|url=http://www.scifri.org/thankyou.html|work=scifri.org|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120517121756/http://www.scifri.org/thankyou.html|archive-date=May 17, 2012|access-date=September 6, 2012}}</ref> Formerly the program was supported by the [[Noyce Foundation]], the [[S.D. Bechtel Jr. Foundation]], and the [[Carnegie Corporation of New York]]. Science Friday has received federal funding from the US [[National Science Foundation]] and [[NASA]].

==History==
''SciFri'' was created when the National Science Foundation agreed to fund a weekly science talk-show on NPR. After the Gulf War in 1991, NPR created the daily talk show ''[[Talk of the Nation]]'', with ''Science Friday'' originating as the Friday edition of that series. ''Talk of the Nation'' ended its run in 2013,<ref name="NPR dropping TOTN">{{cite news|url=https://www.npr.org/2013/03/29/175686531/npr-to-drop-call-in-show-talk-of-the-nation|title=NPR To Drop Call-In Show 'Talk Of The Nation'|date=2013-03-29|work=NPR.org|last2=Montagne|first2=Renée|location=Washington, D.C.|first1=David|last1=Folkenflik|access-date=2013-03-30|author-link1=David Folkenflik|author-link2=Renée Montagne}}</ref> after which ''Science Friday'' became a standalone series and moved from NPR to [[Public Radio International]] in 2014.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.current.org/2013/09/flatow-moves-science-friday-to-pri-distribution/|title=Flatow moves Science Friday to PRI distribution|access-date=13 October 2014}}</ref>

''Science Friday'' maintained an island (Science Friday Island) in [[Second Life]], including an open-air theater with live audio and video feeds of the broadcast. That venue is no longer in operation.{{citation needed|date=April 2012}}

On November 9, 2012, ScienceFriday, Inc. filed a trademark infringement lawsuit in New York state court against a long-running Denver radio program, titled ''Real Science Friday'', hosted by two [[young earth]] [[creationists]] including Colorado pastor and radio personality [[Bob Enyart]].  The show was re-titled ''Real Science Radio''.<ref>{{cite news | url=http://www.law360.com/ip/articles/393407| title=NPR Program Sues Christian Radio Hosts Over Trademarks | first=Scott | last=Flaherty | agency=[[Law360]] | date=Nov 13, 2012}}</ref>

On April 11, 2018, distribution of the show changed hands once more when it went from PRI to [[WNYC Studios]].<ref>[http://current.org/2018/01/science-friday-partners-with-wnyc-on-distribution/ 'Science Friday' partners with WNYC on distribution] ''Current Public Media,'' January 11, 2018. Retrieved January 11, 2018.</ref>

Science Friday introduced Flora Lichtman<ref>{{Cite web |last=Fuller |first=Austin |date=2025-01-07 |title=Flora Lichtman named ‘Science Friday’ host |url=https://current.org/2025/01/flora-lichtman-named-science-friday-host/ |access-date=2025-03-17 |website=Current |language=en-US}}</ref> as a regular host of Science Friday in January 2025.  

=== Undiscovered ===
''Science Friday'' launched a spinoff podcast in collaboration with [[WNYC Studios]] entitled ''Undiscovered'', which debuted in early 2017.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Quah |first=Nicholas |date=October 18, 2016 |title=Hot Pod: Is podcasting about food the new dancing about architecture? |url=https://www.niemanlab.org/2016/10/hot-pod-is-podcasting-about-food-the-new-dancing-about-architecture/ |access-date=May 12, 2022 |website=Nieman Lab}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Falk |first=Tyler |date=January 11, 2018 |title='Science Friday' partners with WNYC on distribution |url=https://current.org/2018/01/science-friday-partners-with-wnyc-on-distribution/ |access-date=May 12, 2022 |website=current.org}}</ref> The show is hosted by Elah Feder and Annie Minoff.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Loria |first=Kevin |date=March 15, 2018 |title=15 of the best science podcasts that will make you smarter |url=https://www.businessinsider.com/best-science-podcasts-will-make-you-smarter-2018-1 |access-date=May 12, 2022 |website=Business Insider |language=en-US}}</ref> The show is about the [[history of science]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Talbot |first=Hope |date=February 1, 2022 |title=20 History Podcasts to Kick the Dust off the Past |url=https://discoverpods.com/history-podcasts/ |access-date=May 12, 2022 |website=Discover Pods |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Nannestad |first=Chloë |date=May 26, 2021 |title=30 Best Podcasts for Road Trips to Make the Miles Fly By |url=https://www.rd.com/article/best-podcasts-for-road-trips/ |access-date=May 12, 2022 |website=Reader's Digest |language=en-US}}</ref>

==See also==

* [[Institute for Nonprofit News]] (member)

==References==
{{Reflist|}}

==External links==
*{{cite news |url= https://www.nytimes.com/2000/04/04/science/conversation-with-ira-flatow-latter-day-mr-wizard-expounds-joy-science.html?pagewanted=all&src=pm |title=A Conversation with: Ira Flatow; Latter-Day Mr. Wizard Expounds on the Joy of Science |author=Claudia Dreifus |author-link=Claudia Dreifus |work=[[The New York Times]] |date=April 4, 2000 |access-date=September 6, 2012}}

{{WGBH}}

[[Category:1991 radio programme debuts]]
[[Category:American talk radio programs]]
[[Category:Science podcasts]]
[[Category:Science radio programs]]
[[Category:Science and technology in the United States]]
[[Category:Public Radio International programs]]