LINCOLN — Nebraska Public Media recently won two Public Media Awards from the National Educational Telecommunications Association. The network's "What If ..
." television series was honored for episodes in the "Topical Feature" category. "What If .
.." explores innovation, creativity and entrepreneurship, while the crew and host pull back the curtain on the television production process.
The episode "D-Wayne, Surgical Robot & Nerd Creativity" features vocal entrepreneur D-Wayne Taylor; a first-of-its-kind miniature surgical robot that is transforming abdominal surgery; and "nerd" creativity displayed at the O-CON pop culture event in Omaha. Portions of the episode were recorded at Nebraska Wesleyan University's Elder Theatre Center in Lincoln, including in its extensive costume library. Another award-winning "What If .
.." episode, "Fast Forward, Tri Faith, Little Church & MIND Mobile," includes stories about a start-up company using thermal imaging to detect power line problems; a first-of-its-kind interfaith campus in Omaha; one tiny historic church serving two faiths; and a youth development experiment offering haircuts, mentoring and counseling, all on a bus.
Parts of this episode were recorded using a robot server at JoJo's Gelato and Grill in Aurora. A Nebraska Public Media News radio story about an Indigenous, intergenerational sewing group that empowers and heals through fashion was honored in the public media association's "Radio Society/Culture" category. The story e.