My career is comprised of three distinct paths, consisting of politics, academics, and the media. As a politician, I am was elected HRM (Halifax Regional Municipality) Councillor for District 12. I am also a Green Party of Nova Scotia, part shadow cabinet, acting as Climate Change Critic.
Academically, I am in the final stages of my PhD in Education, specializing in discourse analysis as it relates to the discourses between the sciences and the media. I also have a B.Sc in physics and an M.A.(Research) in education. Until this past year, I was also a professor at two Universities, Saint Mary’s University (faculty of Engineering) and Mount Saint Vincent University (faculties of Education and Communications & PR). I have taught a variety subjects including writing, the sciences, mathematics, meteorology, physics, communications and PR, and education.
My career in the media is extensive and detailed. Currently, I have a weekly science question and answer show on Q104 (radio) in Halifax, called the Q-Files and I do a weekly science interview on Sirius 167, with Andrew Krystal. I have had an almost four decade long career as a meteorologist and science reporter for the CBC, CTV, GlobalTV, and Rogers Media.
As a documentary film maker I have produced, written and hosted numerous science and history documentaries, broadcast domestically and abroad. I have syndicated three children’s television series, Wonder Why?, The Adventures of the AfterMath Crew and WiseWeatherWhys. My latest production was a three hour mini series for Discovery HD about ancient weapons called M5 - Weapons of War which I produced, wrote and hosted. My efforts to understand the media and its role in how people learn also extends to a series of books I have published. Two of my books relate to the weather and climate change, my third is about the role of the media in science and my fourth and latest book, The Science Files - Questions and Answers From A to Z is about the public face of science and was based on the questions and answers listeners called in to my one hour, call-in radio talk show, the “Science Files”.
My “public outreach” efforts to popularize science and science education through the media extends to public and keynote speaking engagements. The topics I address include science, anthropogenic global warming (AGW) issues and the relationship between media and science. My work to promote science and learning on all levels was rewarded in November of 2013 with the Discovery Centre’s Science Champion Award.
Councillor District 12 Halifax Regional municipality (HRM) 2016 to 2020 I was elected in the fall of 2016 to HRM Council for a four year term. In addition to my regular duties as Councillor, I was the co-chair of environment and sustainability committee, and sat on 6 other committees.
The Q-Files on Q104 Halifax 2017 to present I have a weekly show about science on Q104, the highest rated radio station in Halifax. Each week on the BJ and the Morning Crew show I do a light-hearted and fast paced science Q&A with the hosts.
Sirius 167 - The Andrew Krystal show 2016 to present Every week I co-host a science Q&A segment on the Andrew Krystal Show on Sirius 167.
President, Zurawski Productions Inc., Halifax — 2006 to Present President and owner of Zurawski Productions Inc. (ZP), a company set up to provide an outlet for my documentary productions, public speaking presentations and the books I write. Under Fernwood Press I published my third and fourth books “The Science Files” and “Media Mediocrity - The Media War Against Science....How Television Makes You Stoopid!”. I am also a keynote speaker for events across Canada (appended list of speaking engagements are listed below). In addition I have helped design, consult and teach the CPSS course in meteorology for adult sailors. I taught this course for 3 years.
Past Employment
Part-time Lecturer, Saint Mary’s University, Halifax — Fall 2015 to 2018 EGNE 1206 Technical Communications
Part-time Lecturer, Mount Saint Vincent University, Halifax — 2010 to 2015 Part-time lecturer in the department of Communication Studies and in the department of Education at Mount Saint Vincent University. I taught at both the undergraduate and graduate level. The courses I have taught include GRDC6353 a research seminar for curriculum studies, PBRL 3013, ‘Mass Media and Public Understanding’, PBRL 2015, ‘Audio Visual Communications’, PBRL 2013 ‘Communication Theory and Practices’ and COMM 3025, an undergraduate course in New Media. I also taught EDUC 5349 - Advanced Science Curriculum at MSVU, EDUC5361 - Secondary Curriculum Mathematics and EDUC4561 - Primary Mathematics Methods and Curriculum.
Chief Meteorologist, Science Expert and Science Communicator, Rogers Maritime Radio, Halifax, Moncton, Saint John, Ottawa, London and Kitchener-Waterloo — 2005 to 2016 As Chief Meteorologist for Rogers Radio, Maritimes, I began producing daily weather reports for Rogers Radio in October 2005 when their stations first went to air in the Maritimes. I prepared weather forecasts for News 95-7 (Halifax), a broadcast area which ranges across most of Nova Scotia with total potential audience reach of roughly half a million. I was also the meteorologist for 1310News in Ottawa, preparing the daily weather forecasts five days a week. In each market I prepared the public forecasts three times each day and delivered them to the required stations. I also provided the text forecast for the news anchors, as well as weather interviews when warranted.
I filled a number of science information and education roles within the Rogers Radio Broadcast Group umbrella. In addition to being the chief meteorologist I was also the co-host the Monday Science Files on “Maritime Morning with Rick Howe”, which is a daily call-in news talk show broadcast in Halifax. This was a first of its kind in private radio in Canada. In this capacity I talked about science news, and answered questions about science from callers to the show. The show ran for 13 years and was one of the most popular segments of the Rogers stations.
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 specialized in science and history documentaries, children’s series for domestic and international broadcasters, as well as providing the marketing, liaisons and business outreach for the PAL productions. PAL produced, distributed and marketed more than a dozen documentaries and syndicated three children’s television series. Budgets for the productions ranged from under 100K to 6.5 million dollars.
Chief Meteorologist and on-air Meteorologist, Maritime Global Television, Halifax — 2007-2008 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 year students in St. Clair College, Windsor, Ontario.
Education Ph.D (Ed) Candidate at Mount Saint Vincent University. M.A.Research. (Ed) Mount 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.
Published Books The Science Files - Questions and Answers From A to Z by Richard Zurawski was published by Fernwood Publishers. My latest book lists the questions that have been posed by the listeners of my weekly radio science show and illustrates the public face of science. The book is based on the questions and answers listeners call in to my radio talk shows, the “Science Files” a weekly, one hour call-in radio talk show.
Media Mediocrity - The Media War Against Science....How the Television Makes You Stoopid! was released released in May, 2011with Fernwood Publications. 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.
Production Credits and Descriptions This is a partial list of broadcast productions in which I was the writer, producer and often the host. All productions were created under the umbrella of my independent production companies.
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) 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. (Summer 2010)
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. We travelled around the world in the making of this documentary, to visit Parsee and Zarathushti communities, in North America, Europe, India and Iran. 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 - children’s science series, 65X30 minutes for CTV 1989-1994 (Creator, Writer, Host, Producer) 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.
Selected Presentations, Keynotes, Workshops “Critical Perspectives on Learning Science from the News Media” - April 11, 2013, A poster/paper presentation at the Global Conversations in Science Education Conference (held in conjunction with the annual National Science Teachers Association Conference), in San Antonio, Texas By G. Michael Bowen, Richard Zurawski & Anthony Bartley
Guest Lecturer November 2012 - BEd science methods class MSVU: Educational Overview of Modern Physics and and Discussion of Schroedinger’s Cat
Keynote Evening at Acadia University - Wolfville - Mar 2012: Co-speaker with Dr Leo Elshof - The Media and Climate Change - Two Ships in the Night
CSSE - Kitchener-Waterloo - May 2012: Perspectives on the Use of News Media To Teach About Socio-scientific Issues. Panel Discussion - Richard Zurawski, Dr. Leo Elshof, Dr. Rebecca Hower and Dr. Mike Bowen
Keynote for Genivar - Halifax - May 2012: The Media & the Environment: How the Media Affects Our Understanding, Molds Our Perceptions and Manufactures Controversy and Consent.
Master of Ceremonies for Science Atlantic 50th Anniversary - Halifax - June 2012
Keynote Speaker - Armdale Yacht Club - Halifax - July 2012: How Climate Change Will Affect the Waters of Nova Scotia.
PEI Co-Op Council Annual Meeting - Charlottetown - Aug 2012: The Role the Media Plays In Our Understanding of the World or Coping in The Information Age
Nova Scotia Teacher’s Conference - Halifax - October 2012: Using News Media Resources in the Classroom: Being aware of the issues. Teacher’s Workshop - Dr Mike Bowen, Richard Zurawski
Atlantic Canada and Asia Rising Conference - Panel Discussion - Saint Mary’s University, Halifax - Nov 2011: Panelists - David Gauthier, David Emerson, Yuen Pau Woo, Karen Oldfield, Colin Dodds, Stewart Beck, Richard Zurawski
Member Associations
Member and Board of Director member of the Science Writers and Communicators of Canada World Congress of Science and Factual Producers, Science Writers of Canada, World Conference of Science Journalists.
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 6.5 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 superior 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 and learning of science, 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.