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Discovery launching science-focussed initiative Channel Quest in 2002-03
The Discovery Channel has announced that the 2002-03 season will include the launch of Discovery Channel Quest, a new initiative designed to inspire and fund the next generation of scientific achievement.
An official release informs that over the past two decades, the Discovery Channel has provided the resources for research that resulted in groundbreaking finds including the recovery of the Liberty Bell 7 space capsule, identification of two new dinosaur species.
Discovery Channel Quest seeks to expand this legacy by funding projects, scientists and explorers who are at the vanguard of their fields. These research activities will be chronicled via online and televised despatches from sites around the world, lecture series, and landmark television specials that capture the toil, genius, setbacks and exhilaration that are the lifeblood of the search for knowledge the release states.
Executive VP and GM Discovery Channel Clark Bunting said: “At a time when many programmers are looking to retrench and conserve, the Discovery Channel is aggressively investing in the highest quality original programming, specials and initiatives like Discovery Channel Quest.
This is the key to expanding our already strong position in an increasingly cluttered television world, and we are looking forward to delivering programming that continue to engage and surprise viewers as well as enabling science and exploration that may change our view of the world.”
In addition. the channel announced that the 2002-03 schedule will see six new original series. They include Hi-Tech History which blends past and future by using 21st century technology and techniques to answer the lingering questions of histories’ greatest mysteries. People Watch combines real life video footage with expert scientific, anthropological and psychological perspectives to analyse everyday behaviors that most of us take for granted.
James Cameron’s Expedition Bismarck will be the first programme emanating from the Discovery Channel Quest initiative. The director of Titanic searches for the German battleship DKM Bismarck. The program chronicles his personal quest for the submerged wreck and seeks new information and answers to how this seemingly invincible ship was destroyed on its maiden voyage.
The Discovery Channel and BBC will reunite in 2002-03 for a wide range of high profile specials. The coming year features the next installment in the Walking With… franchise. Cavemen will be featured. This all-new special will use the latest research and computer generated images (CGI) to shed new light on what life was like for our human ancestors. The new series also pioneers deep time-lapse, a visual technique that allows viewers to witness incredible scenes of climate change, geological uplift and environmental turmoil spanning millions of years – all in just a few moments. The Great Pyramid recreates a “builder’s eye view” of the construction of the Great Pyramid at Giza.
Other specials coming in 2002-03 include Joined For Life, a program that looks at the daily life of the conjoined 11-year-old Hensel twins. The Hensel family chose Discovery to exclusively document a year in the life of the 11-year-old twins, from March 2001 to March 2002.
NEW DELHI: Hamdard Laboratories gathered a cross-section of India’s achievers in New Delhi on Friday, handing out the Hakeem Abdul Hameed Excellence Awards to figures who have left their mark across healthcare, education, sport, public service and the arts.
The ceremony, attended by minister of state for defence Sanjay Seth and senior officials from the ministry of Ayush, celebrated individuals whose work blends professional success with a sense of public purpose. It was as much a roll call of achievement as it was a reminder that influence is not measured only in profits or podiums, but in people reached and lives improved.
Among the headline awardees was Alakh Pandey, founder and chief executive of PhysicsWallah, recognised for turning affordable digital learning into a mass movement. On the sporting front, Arjuna Awardee and kabaddi player Sakshi Puniya was honoured for her contribution to the game and for pushing women’s participation onto bigger stages.
The cultural spotlight fell on veteran lyricist and poet Santosh Anand, whose songs have echoed across generations of Hindi cinema. At 97, Anand accepted the honour with characteristic humility, reflecting on a life shaped by perseverance and hope.
Healthcare honours spanned both modern and traditional systems. Manoj N. Nesari was recognised for strengthening Ayurveda’s place in national and global health frameworks. Padma shri Mohammed Abdul Waheed was honoured for his research-backed work in Unani medicine, while padma shri Mohsin Wali received recognition for his long-standing contribution to patient-centred care.
Education and social development also featured prominently. Padma shri Zahir Ishaq Kazi was honoured for decades of work in education, while former Meghalaya superintendent of Police T. C. Chacko was recognised for public service. Goonj founder Anshu Gupta received an award for his dignity-centred rural development initiatives, and the Hunar Shakti Foundation was honoured for empowering women and young girls through skill development.
The Lifetime Achievement Award went to former IAS officer Shailaja Chandra for her long career in public healthcare and governance, particularly in the traditional systems under Ayush.
Speaking at the event, Hamdard chairman Abdul Majeed said the awards were a tribute to those who combine excellence with empathy. “These awardees reflect Hakeem Sahib’s belief that healthcare, education and public service must ultimately serve humanity,” he said.
Minister Seth struck a forward-looking note, saying India’s young population gives the country a unique opportunity to become a global destination for learning, health and wellness by 2047.
The ceremony also featured the trailer launch of Unani Ki Kahaani, an upcoming documentary starring actor Jim Sarbh, set to premiere on Discovery on 11 February.
Instituted in memory of Unani scholar and educationist Hakeem Abdul Hameed, the awards have grown into a national platform that celebrates those building a more inclusive and resilient India. For one evening at least, the spotlight was not just on success, but on service with substance.
