JIM PECK: NOW, TOMORROW'S NEWSPEOPLE ARE COMING FROM MSU, WHERE LEARNING THE JOB AND DOING THE JOB ARE ALL MIXED TOGETHER. ROLL IT.
MAN #1: HAVE HIM STAND BY. I'M GONNA COUNT YOU DOWN. YEAH, RECORD IT.
WOMAN #1: WE'LL GET THIS OUT, AND WE'RE GOOD.
MAN #1: 3, 2, 1. STAND BY TO PAN RUN.
PUSH. MIKE AND CUE -- GO.
JIM PECK: WELCOME TO THE FAST-PACED...
MAN #2: STRESSFUL, BUT WE'LL MAKE IT.
JIM PECK: ...HIGH-STRESS WORLD OF TELEVISION NEWS.
EVAN SCHWARTZ, STUDENT: WE WORK ON A SHOW CALLED "FOCAL POINT.”
LESLEY CLEGG, STUDENT:I LOVE "FOCAL POINT.” I'VE BEEN IN "FOCAL POINT" SINCE I WAS A SOPHOMORE.
WOMAN #1: WE'RE GONNA HAVE TO DO THE WHOLE THING OVER AGAIN.
MAN #1: STAND BY, MIKE AND CUE.
EVAN SCHWARTZ: TODAY, WE WERE DOING OUR LIVE-TO-TAPE SHOW, WHICH WE DO BI-WEEKLY.
WOMAN #1: READY ON 3 FOR LESLIE.
JIM PECK: IT'S SECONDS AWAY FROM SHOWTIME, BUT MUCH OF THE WORK HAS BEEN PREPARED DAYS IN ADVANCE.
EVAN SCHWARTZ: THE WHOLE ANGLE FOR MEN'S BASKETBALL IS PEOPLE BEING EXCITED FOR THE TOURNAMENT.
JIM PECK: REPORTERS HAVE MADE CALLS, GONE OUT, SHOT STORIES, AND HAVE COME BACK AND PUT THEM TOGETHER.
ANISA ABID, STUDENT: YEAH, IT GOT CUT OUT OF THE LAST SHOW, BUT I'M HAPPY IT'S IN THIS ONE.
JIM PECK: THESE FUTURE JOURNALISTS ARE LEARNING BY PRODUCING.
EVAN SCHWARTZ: I THINK A LOT OF PEOPLE DON'T REALIZE HOW MUCH GOES INTO A SHOW.
MAN #3: I'M PLUGGING IN THE TelePrompTer SO PEOPLE CAN READ.
ACTUALLY, THEY'RE ILLITERATE, SO IT DOESN'T EVEN MATTER IF I PLUG ANYTHING IN.
LESLEY CLEGG: THERE ARE THOUSANDS OF MEDIA OUTFITS -- OUTLETS.
MAN #4: I AM WORKING ON TAPES.
SO, ESSENTIALLY, I JUST HIT A BUTTON.
HOPEFULLY, I DON'T SCREW UP.
MAN #5: STAND BY TO ROLL "D.”
IN 3, 2, 1.
ROLL IT.
ROLLING "D.”
MIKE AND CUE HIM.
WOMAN #2: WELL, I WANTED TO GET THE EXPERIENCE OF ANCHORING.
EVAN SCHWARTZ: FOR EVERY 10 ANCHORS THERE ARE THAT WANT TO BE ANCHORS, THERE'S LIKE ONE PRODUCER.
MAIRIN MACDONALD, STUDENT: WE COME INTO THIS PROFESSION KIND OF THINKING, "I WANT TO BE AN ANCHOR.”
EVAN SCHWARTZ: I THINK, SORT OF, PRODUCERS AND DIRECTORS AND ALL THAT STUFF BEHIND THE SCENES -- TECHNICAL DIRECTORS -- THEY'RE VERY UNDERAPPRECIATED.
WOMAN #2: IT'S IMPORTANT TO KNOW WHAT IS INVOLVED IN EVERYONE'S JOB.
MAN #1: READY 3.
JIM PECK: SO, EVERYONE HERE KNOWS HOW TO DO EVERYTHING.
LESLEY CLEGG: RUN CAMERA.
I WOULD RUN TAPE DECK.
I WOULD DO AUDIO BOARD, TelePrompTer, EDITING.
WOMAN #3: I WANTED TO DRAG A-1 TO A-3.
LESLEY CLEGG: WRITING SCRIPTS AND ANCHORING, WHICH IS SO MUCH FUN.
JIM PECK: AND LIKE ANYTHING IN TELEVISION, THERE'S USUALLY A TAKE TWO.
MAN #6: OH, NO! [ LAUGHS ]
WOMAN #1: JUST READ THE PROMPTER.
MAN #6: I'M TRYING TO.
MAN #1: ALL RIGHT, EXACT SAME THING.
MAN #6: MAN.
JIM PECK: BUT THAT'S OKAY.
WITH A STUDENT NEWSCAST, THERE'S TIME HERE TO LEARN AND TO TEACH.
BOB GOULD, JOURNALISM INSTRUCTOR: IT'S A GREAT, VALUABLE EXPERIENCE FOR THEM.
IT'S REAL-WORLD EXPERIENCE.
THEY'RE GETTING TO SEE WHAT IT'S ALL ABOUT.
MAIRIN MACDONALD: STUDENTS DON'T KNOW WHAT IT'S REALLY LIKE TO BE IN A LIVE NEWSROOM.
WHAT WE ARE TRYING TO DO HERE IS SIMULATE THAT.
WOMAN #1: WE'LL GO TAKE ONE FOR JAMAL.
JIM PECK: NOT ONLY DO THEY HAVE TO LEARN ALL THE JOBS, BUT THEY NEED TO UNDERSTAND THE TERMINOLOGY USED, AS WELL.
LESLEY CLEGG: "WHAT THE HECK IS A C.G.?"
MAN #2: WOULD YOU HIT "PLAY-RECORD" FOR ME, PLEASE? THIS IS A TAPE FOR BRUCE CAMPBELL'S "SANT," WHICH IS ESSENTIALLY A SOUND AND TAPE, OR A QUOTE.
WOMAN #1: FOR THE DRUNK DRIVING, IT SAYS "VO SAT VO.”
MAN #2: "VO SAT 'A.'"
WOMAN #1: I'M JUST MAKING SURE YOU GUYS KNOW THAT.
LESLEY CLEGG: THE PEOPLE WHO TAKE IT ARE THE BEST OF THE BEST, THE PEOPLE WHO REALLY WANT TO BE HERE AND PUT IN THE WORK.
THEY'LL CALL IN LATE TO WORK AND SAY, "I'M DOING MY STORY FOR 'FOCAL POINT.'" JAMAL, YOU WERE SUPPOSED TO BE IN AT 3:30?" THEY'LL SAY, "I'M NOT EATING DINNER AGAIN.”
MAN #7: I'M EATING BECAUSE I HAVEN'T HAD LUNCH YET, AND I'M VERY HUNGRY.
WOMAN #1: WE'VE GOT A COUPLE DIFFERENT OPTIONS HERE.
MAN #1: ROLL "C.”
TAKE IT.
MAN #7: IT'S GOING VERY SLOWLY.
IT'S ALWAYS ONE PROBLEM.
JIM PECK: TELEVISION NEWS IS A FIELD THAT'S CONSTANTLY CHANGING WITH NEW TECHNOLOGY.
BOB GOULD: HAVING MORE SKILLS CLASSES LIKE THIS AND LESS THEORY CLASSES WILL REALLY HELP THEM IN THE PROFESSIONAL WORLD.
LESLEY CLEGG: I THINK IT GAVE ME A HEAD START GETTING INTO MY INTERNSHIPS.
EVAN SCHWARTZ: SORT OF GETS YOU READY FOR THE FIELD, GIVES YOU A SENSE OF A NEWSROOM SETTING.
JIM PECK: AND THESE STUDENTS ARE GETTING A HEAD START BEFORE THEY HAVE TO HEAD OUT INTO THE HECTIC WORLD OF TELEVISION NEWS.
BOB GOULD: GIVING THE STUDENTS THIS KIND OF REAL-WORLD OPPORTUNITY IS JUST -- IT'S PRICELESS AND IT'S SO IMPORTANT.
MAIRIN MACDONALD: WE ALL COME TOGETHER.
WE'RE IN A NEWSROOM TOGETHER, WORKING TOGETHER TO GET A SHOW TO AIR.
BOB GOULD: YOU CAN'T JUST HAVE TEXTBOOK KNOWLEDGE TO GET A JOB IN THIS FIELD.
YOU HAVE TO GO OUT AND DO IT, AND YOU HAVE TO DO IT REPETITIVELY IN ORDER TO GET A DECENT RéSUMé TAPE TO TAKE OUT TO A TELEVISION STATION OR WHEREVER YOU WANT TO GET A JOB.
YOU HAVE TO HAVE A RéSUMé THAT'S GONNA SHOW SOME PRACTICAL EXPERIENCE.
OTHERWISE, IT'S NOT GONNA HAPPEN.
MAN #1: STAND BY TO ROLL.
MAN #6: JOIN US NEXT TIME AS WE PUT MORE SPARTAN NEWS IN FOCUS.
LESLEY CLEGG: WE LEAVE YOU NOW WITH SOME MUSIC FROM A RECENT HIP-HOP SHOW AT MACS BAR.
MAN #6: GOOD NIGHT.
[ SINGING INDISTINCTLY ]
WOMAN #1: THIS SHOW WENT SO MUCH BETTER THAN THE LAST ONE.
BOB GOULD: WE'RE JUST GONNA KEEP PLUGGING AWAY, AND EVERY WEEK, WE GET BETTER.
WOMAN #1: I'M JUST GLAD THAT'S OVER.
BOB GOULD: MONDAY, WE START ALL OVER AGAIN.
WOMAN #1: OKAY.
JIM PECK: YOU KNOW, I'M NOT A BIG FAN OF BUGS, BUT FOR KIDS, IT'S A WHOLE DIFFERENT STORY.
JESSICA BAYLES, 4-H CHILDREN’S GARDEN: READ YOU A STORY ABOUT BUGS IN THE GARDEN, WHICH IS PERFECT, 'CAUSE WE'RE IN THE GARDEN AND WE'RE LEARNING ABOUT BUGS.
BOY #1: IT FEELS LIKE...
JESSICA BAYLES: THE BIG SHOWSTOPPER IS THE BUG HOUSE.
BOY #1: ...SOMETHING IS HANGED ONTO YOUR HANDS.
JIM PECK: THE 4-H GARDEN ON CAMPUS IS ALWAYS A HIT WITH THE KIDS, BUT IT REALLY COMES TO LIFE ON BUG DAY.
BOY #2: I WANT TO SEE THE POND.
JIM PECK: SO, JESSICA, WE'RE IN THE BUG GARDEN.
JESSICA BAYLES: WE'RE IN THE MICHIGAN 4-H CHILDREN'S GARDEN.
WE DON'T HAVE A "BUG GARDEN.”
JIM PECK: IT'S NOT THE BUG GARDEN.
JESSICA BAYLES: IT'S BUG DAY.
PEOPLE GET CONFUSED.
JIM PECK: IT'S "BUG DAY," NOT "BUG GARDEN.”
JESSICA BAYLES: RIGHT.
BUG DAY IS THE EVENT.
JIM PECK: SHOULD I JUST LEAVE NOW? IS THIS ALREADY NOT WORKING FOR US?
JESSICA BAYLES: NO! NO, NO, NO.
NOT AT ALL.
JIM PECK: SINCE 1993, THE GARDEN HAS BEEN A SPOT WHERE MSU RESEARCH AND FUN AND KIDS COME TOGETHER.
JESSICA BAYLES: BUG DAY IS AN ANNUAL EVENT.
IT'S ALWAYS SUCH A HUGE HIT, SO WE MAKE SURE THAT WE BRING THIS EVENT BACK EVERY YEAR.
JIM PECK: AND WHAT ARE THESE KIDS GONNA BE DOING? I SEE THEY'RE BUILDING THINGS.
THEY'RE LOOKING AT THINGS.
I HEARD THEY MAY BE EVEN EATING THINGS?
JESSICA BAYLES: YES.
SO, WE WANT TO MAKE BUG DAY THE MOST INTERACTIVE OPPORTUNITY POSSIBLE.
WE HAVE A LOT OF RESOURCES AVAILABLE TO US HERE AT THE GARDEN, SO WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THE KIDS LEAVE HERE LOVING BUGS.
WE HAVE A VARIETY OF DIFFERENT ACTIVITIES.
THEY'RE MAKING BUG HATS.
THEY GET TO BUILD A BUG.
THEY GET TO LOOK AT OUR BEE OBSERVATION HIVE.
SO, WE WANT TO SHOW THEM ALL THE DIFFERENT AREAS THAT WE CAN OF BUGS AND BUGS IN THE GARDEN.
JIM PECK: WHY IS THIS IMPORTANT FOR MSU TO BE DOING THIS? AS FAR AS THE UNIVERSITY GOES, WHY IS THIS SUCH AN IMPORTANT -- YOU SAID IT'S OUTREACH, BUT IT CAN'T BE JUST SHOWING THESE KIDS A BUG, A FLOWER, A TREE, CAN IT?
JESSICA BAYLES: RIGHT.
HERE AT THE CHILDREN'S GARDEN AND HERE AT THE UNIVERSITY, WHAT WE REALLY WANT TO DO IS WE WANT TO OPEN OUR FACILITIES AND THE UNIVERSITY INTO THE COMMUNITY.
SO, WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT PEOPLE KNOW THE UNIVERSITY IS HERE FOR THEM, THAT WE HAVE RESOURCES AND INFORMATION AVAILABLE FOR THEM HERE AT THE GARDEN, ALSO AT THE UNIVERSITY.
SO, THESE TYPES OF EVENTS ARE WAYS FOR US TO BRING PEOPLE IN FROM AROUND THE UNIVERSITY, USING THE GARDEN AS KIND OF THE VENUE TO LET PEOPLE COME OUT AND INVESTIGATE DIFFERENT THINGS THAT THE UNIVERSITY IS DOING, DIFFERENT THINGS THAT THE HORTICULTURE DEPARTMENT IS DOING.
SO, IT'S OUTREACH, BUT IT'S ALSO A WAY FOR US TO KIND OF SHARE THE INFORMATION TO KIDS THAT NOT MANY PEOPLE WOULD BE ABLE TO SHARE OTHERWISE.
JIM PECK: IT'S PART OF THE MSU HORTICULTURE GARDENS, RIGHT HERE ON CAMPUS -- 14 ACRES DEVOTED TO FLOWERS, PLANTS, AND, UH, BUGS, EVEN IF YOU'RE NOT QUITE SURE WHAT KIND IT IS.
BOY #1: I DON'T KNOW -- AN AFRICAN STICK.
NO, IT'S A BUG, BUT I DON'T KNOW WHY IT'S CALLED A STICK.
CHILD: IT'S CALLED A WALKING STICK.
BOY #1: YEAH, IT'S A WALKING STICK.
JIM PECK: THERE'S ALL SORTS OF THINGS FOR THE KIDS.
YOU CAN BUILD A BUG.
WOMAN: THAT'S GOOD.
GOOD JOB.
JIM PECK: YOU CAN MAKE BUG HATS.
WOMAN: YOU NEED TO MAKE YOUR HAT.
JIM PECK: EVEN EAT SOME BUGS.
WOMAN: YOU MAY MAKE ONE MORE BUG TO EAT.
JESSICA BAYLES: THIS YEAR, WE DECIDED THAT WE WERE GONNA MAKE INSECTS OUT OF DRIED FRUIT, SO THEY GET TO DESIGN THEIR OWN INSECTS.
WE TRY TO GET THEM TO USE ALL THE CHARACTERISTICS OF AN INSECT, SO GIVE IT THREE BODY PARTS, SIX LEGS, ANTENNA, ALL THOSE THINGS.
SO, IT'S JUST A WAY FOR THE KIDS TO GET TO EXPLORE INSECTS IN A DIFFERENT WAY, KNOWING THEIR CHARACTERISTICS, AND NOT JUST GIVE THEM A WORKSHEET AND HAVE THEM FILL IT OUT.
IT'S A DIFFERENT WAY FOR THEM TO BE ABLE TO LEARN ABOUT INSECTS.
JIM PECK: JESSICA IS A GREAT TOUR GUIDE, EVEN IF SHE DOES TEND TO GET A LITTLE...BUGGY.
JESSICA BAYLES: YOU KNOW WHAT? IN SOME PARTS OF THE WORLD, THEY WEAR BUGS AS JEWELRY -- LIVE BUGS.
I'M NOT KIDDING.
THEY WEAR, LIKE, THESE LIVE-BUG LOCKETS.
GIRL: 'CAUSE IT LOOKS PRETTY.
JESSICA BAYLES: THEY'RE SO GOOD AT CAMOUFLAGING THEMSELVES, YOU JUST DON'T EVER SEE THEM.
BOY #3: WHOA!
JESSICA BAYLES: BUT YOU KNOW WHAT? I'VE NEVER HAD A KID CRY.
BOY #4 I SAY I WANT IT OFF OF ME!
JESSICA BAYLES: YOU WOULD THINK THAT THEY WOULD CRY.
THEY CRY AT SO MANY OTHER THINGS, BUT NOT THESE.
SO, THEY'RE JUST REALLY INTERESTED.
MAN: DID YOU SAY IT WAS GROSS?
BOY #5: YEAH.
JESSICA BAYLES: YOU KNOW, I THINK IF I HAD TO EAT BUGS, I COULD, BUT I JUST DON'T HAVE TO EAT BUGS.
JIM PECK: THEY GET ABOUT 150,000 VISITORS A YEAR.
NOW, WHILE IT DOESN'T QUITE RIVAL THE CROWD AT SPARTAN STADIUM...WELL, COME ON, THIS PLACE IS BUGS AND FLOWERS.
JESSICA BAYLES: I WOULD DEFINITELY SAY WE'RE A DESTINATION.
PEOPLE COME TO THIS AREA AND TO THE UNIVERSITY TO COME TO THE GARDEN.
JIM PECK: AND, SHE SAYS, WHEN THEY COME TO SEE THE GARDEN, THEY LEARN A LOT ABOUT MICHIGAN STATE.
JESSICA BAYLES: WE WERE THE FIRST GARDEN OF ITS KIND, AND NOW THERE'S CHILDREN'S GARDENS EVERYWHERE.
SO, IT'S REALLY GREAT FOR US TO SEE THE GROWTH IN CHILDREN'S GARDENS AND THE VALUE THAT PEOPLE PUT ON IT.
AND CHILDREN, YOU KNOW -- IF THE CHILDREN'S GARDEN WASN'T HERE, HOW MANY CHILDREN WOULD ACTUALLY COME TO THE UNIVERSITY? PROBABLY NOT THAT MANY.
JIM PECK: SO, THE OUTDOORS OPEN DOORS TO LEARNING ABOUT BUGS AND PLANTS AND FLOWERS BUT ALSO ABOUT WHAT HAPPENS ON CAMPUS.
SHE SAYS THE KIDS LEARN WHAT COLLEGE CAN BE LIKE -- HOW IT CAN BE FUN AND FULL OF KNOWLEDGE AND, WELL, JUST A "HONEY" OF A PLACE TO BE.
JESSICA BAYLES: YOU LOOK FABULOUS! NOW YOU'RE READY TO GO BEEKEEPING.
JIM PECK: LEARNING A NEW LANGUAGE IS ALWAYS A CHALLENGE, BUT NOW LEARNING MANDARIN CHINESE MAY NOT BE EASY, BUT IT SURE LOOKS LIKE FUN.
YOU JUST CLICK.
YONG ZHAO, GAME DEVELOPER: IT'S QUITE EXCITING.
CHINA'S GROWTH IN THE PAST 20 YEARS -- A DOUBLE-DIGIT ECONOMIC GROWTH -- DEFINITELY HAS PUT CHINA ON THE MAP.
JIM PECK: IN A SMALL CORNER OF EAST LANSING, THERE'S A TEAM THAT'S LOOKING BIG...
CHINA BIG.
YONG ZHAO: YOU DON'T HAVE TO GO TO CHINA TO LEARN CHINESE.
JIM PECK: THE TEAM AT THE CONFUCIUS INSTITUTE IS WORKING HARD TO MAKE IT EASY FOR YOU TO LEARN CHINESE.
KEN DIRKIN, GAME DEVELOPER: IT'S BASICALLY A MULTIPLAYER FLASH GAME.
[ SPEAKING CHINESE ]
JIM PECK: THEIR IDEA?
[ SPEAKING CHINESE ]
A MASSIVE, INTERACTIVE, MULTIPLAYER VIDEO GAME.
[ SPEAKING CHINESE ]
YES, A VIDEO GAME.
YONG ZHAO: WE HAVE BEEN WORKING ON THIS GAME.
IT'S CALLED "ZON.”
WELCOME TO "ZON.”
THIS IS A VIRTUAL TOUR OF CHINA.
NOW COME WITH ME.
WE'RE GOING TO WALK THROUGH THE CHINESE STREETS, CHECK IN TO A CHINESE HOTEL.
OF COURSE, WE'VE GOT TO GET TO THE AIRPORT FIRST, FIND YOUR LUGGAGE.
JIM PECK: THE GAME IS A WAY OF MAKING LEARNING FUN.
YONG ZHAO: AND IF YOU KNOW NOTHING ABOUT CHINESE, IF YOU PLAY THE GAME LONG ENOUGH -- THAT INVOLVES PROBABLY SEVERAL YEARS AND TONS OF HOURS -- YOU WILL BE FLUENT IN CHINESE.
KEN DIRKIN: I CAN ACTUALLY LISTEN TO IT...
[ SPEAKING CHINESE ]
...OR I CAN JUST SELECT IT, AND THEN IF I SELECT THE RIGHT ONE, I CAN CONTINUE THE CONVERSATION.
YONG ZHAO: SO, IT'S TRULY A BREAKTHROUGH FOR HOW WE LEARN LANGUAGE.
JIM PECK: YONG ZHAO IS THE HEAD OF THE PROJECT.
YONG ZHAO: ALL LEARNING SHOULD BE LIKE THIS, AND ALL LEARNING SHOULD MAKE YOU FEEL PROUD, MORE CONFIDENT, MORE EMPOWERED TO DO MORE THINGS.
THAT'S WHY KNOWLEDGE IS USEFUL.
JIM PECK: WITH A NEW WAY OF LEARNING A LANGUAGE...
[ SPEAKING CHINESE ]
THERE ARE CHALLENGES THAT THE TEAM NEEDS TO OVERCOME.
KEN DIRKIN: WE'RE INTERFACING TWO CULTURES.
WE NEED TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO MAKE SOMETHING EXCITING AND MOTIVATIONAL FOR KIDS TO PLAY IN THE U.S. WHILE AT THE SAME TIME HAVING AUTHENTIC CHINESE CONTENT AND LANGUAGE.
[ SPEAKING CHINESE ]
YONG ZHAO: THE BEST ENVIRONMENT IS PERHAPS WHEN YOU ARE IMMERSED IN A FOREIGN CULTURE.
JIM PECK: THE GOAL? A VIDEO GAME THAT IS BOTH ENTERTAINING AND EDUCATIONAL AT THE SAME TIME.
KEN DIRKIN: IT'S NICE BECAUSE IT'S AUTHENTIC.
YOU REALLY GO TO THE BEIJING AIRPORT.
YOU'LL SEE PRETTY MUCH EVERYTHING THAT'S IN THE BEIJING AIRPORT IN "ZON.”
JIM PECK: AND WITH THE BEIJING OLYMPIC GAMES, THERE'S A LOT OF INTEREST IN CHINA AND THE LANGUAGE.
YONG ZHAO: A GROUP AT M.I.T., WHO IS RESPONSIBLE FOR DESIGNING THE WEBSITE FOR NBC OLYMPICS...
WHAT WE'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT -- USING OUR GAME AS ONE OF THE VENUES FOR PEOPLE GOING TO OLYMPICS TO LEARN ABOUT CHINA, LEARN A CHINESE LANGUAGE.
JIM PECK: THE GAME NOT ONLY TEACHES YOU THE LANGUAGE, IT EXPLAINS CHINA'S CULTURE AND EVEN HELPS TOURISTS PREPARE FOR THEIR TRIP.
YONG ZHAO: WELL, RIGHT NOW, WE'RE IN THE AIRPORT IN FRONT OF THE BANK OF CHINA COUNTER, WHERE YOU CHANGE YOUR MONEY.
IT CONVERTS YOUR TRAVELER'S CHECKS INTO ZON DOLLARS.
KEN DIRKIN: SO, I CAN GO BACK AND SAY, "I WANT TO JUST DO $100 TRAVELER'S CHECK.
AND THEN, "THANK YOU.”
JIM PECK: TO MOVE ALONG IN THE GAME, YOU NEED TO INTERACT WITH THE CHARACTERS IN EVERYDAY SITUATIONS...
[ SPEAKING CHINESE ]
...USING YOUR NEW LANGUAGE SKILLS.
[ SPEAKING CHINESE ]
YONG ZHAO: YOU CAN EITHER DO SO BY ENGAGING IN A CONVERSATION, A TRANSACTION THAT YOU CAN BUY FROM THE GAME.
IF YOU'RE SUCCESSFUL IN BUYING, LET'S SAY, A CUP OF COFFEE, THAT MEANS YOU'VE SUCCEEDED.
JIM PECK: THE GAME IS ONLINE, AND IT'S FREE TO PLAY.
KEN DIRKIN: I WOULD GO TO enterzon.com.
IT'S KIND OF LIKE OUR DEVELOPMENT BLOG, WEB PORTAL.
JIM PECK: JUST CLICK AND INSTANTLY TRANSPORT INTO THE CULTURE OF CHINA.
KEN DIRKIN: YEAH, IT'S GREAT RIGHT NOW, BUT IT'S GONNA GET BETTER, AND I HOPE PEOPLE CONTINUE WITH IT, YOU KNOW, AS WE MAKE DEVELOPMENT.
YONG ZHAO: WE ARE GOING TO EXPLORE CHINA TOGETHER.
JIM PECK: SOMEDAY, YOUR ROOF COULD LOOK A LOT LIKE THIS.
IN FACT, IT'S COOL IN MORE WAYS THAN ONE.
IT SEEMS EVERYBODY'S GOING GREEN THESE DAYS, AND WHEN YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT BUILDINGS, IT ONLY MAKES SENSE TO START AT THE TOP -- TO START WITH THE ROOF.
DR. BRAD ROWE, ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR: BASICALLY, WHAT A GREEN ROOF DOES -- I MEAN, IT HELPS COOL THIS BUILDING IN THREE WAYS.
ONE, YOUR MEDIA LAYER THERE ACTS AS ANOTHER INSULATION LAYER.
THE PLANT CANOPY SHADES THE ROOF FROM THE SUN, AND THEN, ALSO, YOU HAVE TRANSPIRATIONAL COOLING.
AS THOSE PLANTS TRANSPIRE, IT'S BASICALLY COOLING THAT ROOF.
JIM PECK: IT MIGHT SOUND A LITTLE TECHNICAL, BUT, BASICALLY, IT JUST MEANS GROWING PLANTS ON THE ROOF, AND GROWING PLANTS ON THE ROOF HELPS THE ENVIRONMENT.
SMART, RIGHT?
DR. BRAD ROWE: TO ME, IT SEEMS LIKE A NO-BRAINER.
I MEAN, THE SPACE IS NOT BEING USED.
I MEAN, LOOK AT ALL THE ROOFS WE HAVE.
PEOPLE -- WE'RE NOT GOING AWAY.
WE'RE GONNA CONTINUE BUILDING.
WE'RE GONNA BUILD BUILDINGS, WE'RE GONNA BUILD ROADS, PARKING LOTS, AND SO FORTH.
STORM WATER IS A MAJOR PROBLEM BECAUSE OF THOSE IMPERVIOUS SURFACES.
PARKING LOT OR A ROOF -- IT BASICALLY RUNS OFF INSTANTANEOUSLY, AND THEN YOU HAVE THE WHOLE STORM-WATER INFRASTRUCTURE SYSTEM, WHICH HAS TO DEAL WITH THAT, SO ONE THING THAT GREEN ROOFS DOES IS, IT HOLDS STORM WATER, BASICALLY, AND DOESN'T LET IT RUN OFF.
JIM PECK: IT'S AN IDEA THAT'S CAUGHT ON IN EUROPE, ESPECIALLY IN GERMANY.
AND NOT ONLY DO THESE GREEN ROOFS HELP PREVENT THINGS LIKE THE WARMING OF THE ENVIRONMENT, THEY CAN HELP YOU SAVE SOME COLD, HARD CASH.
INSTEAD OF A ROOF LASTING 20 YEARS, A GREEN ROOF CAN HANG IN THERE FOR 60 YEARS OR EVEN MORE.
DR. BRAD ROWE: IN GERMANY, THEY ACTUALLY HAVE A GREEN ROOF THAT'S BEEN THERE FOR 90 YEARS, AND THEY HAVE NOT HAD TO REPLACE IT.
JIM PECK: AND JUST SO YOU KNOW, EVEN THE DOGS ARE GOING GREEN.
DR. BRAD ROWE: I HAVE A DOGHOUSE AT HOME THAT'S A GREEN ROOF, SO WE BUILT ONE FOR OUR STUDENT SHOW, AND THE PERSON THAT BOUGHT THAT LIKED IT SO MUCH -- AND HE'S A DEVELOPER -- THAT HE'S ACTUALLY BUILDING A GREEN ROOF ON A NEW CONDO IN EAST LANSING.
BUT IT ALL CAME BACK TO THAT DOGHOUSE.
JIM PECK: THE RESEARCH GOT STARTED HERE AT MICHIGAN STATE, WHEN THE FORD MOTOR COMPANY WANTED SOME QUESTIONS ANSWERED, AND, OF COURSE, THEY CAME TO MSU.
THEY WANTED TO KNOW ABOUT THE POTENTIAL FOR GREEN ROOFS.
FROM THERE, THE RESEARCH JUST KEPT GOING HERE ON CAMPUS.
DR. BRAD ROWE: THE FORD MOTOR COMPANY HAS BEEN ONE OF OUR MAJOR FUNDING SOURCES.
JIM PECK: HE SAYS THE FUTURE IS BRIGHT FOR THIS, ESPECIALLY IN URBAN AREAS, INDUSTRIAL AREAS, NOT JUST HOMES.
CITIES PRESENT THE BIGGEST CHALLENGES FOR ENERGY.
THEY HAVE WHAT ARE KNOWN AS "URBAN HEAT ISLANDS.”
DR. BRAD ROWE: WELL, THE CITY OF ATLANTA'S URBAN HEAT ISLAND IS LIKE 10 DEGREES WARMER, YOU KNOW, RIGHT IN THE CITY, AS IT IS IN THE SUBURBS.
JIM PECK: GREEN ROOFS CAN HELP DOUSE THE HEAT.
SOME AMERICAN CITIES ARE GETTING ONBOARD WITH THE IDEA.
DR. BRAD ROWE: CHICAGO IS BY FAR THE LEADER IN GREEN ROOFS IN THE UNITED STATES.
JIM PECK: THEY'RE DEVELOPING STANDARDS AND GUIDELINES TO PROMOTE GREEN ROOFS IN CHICAGO.
HE SAYS THAT COULD HELP A LOT IF CITIES AND COMMUNITIES STEP UP AND TRY TO PLANT THE SEEDS OF CHANGE BY COMING UP WITH SOME INCENTIVES TO GOING GREEN.
DR. BRAD ROWE: WHEN WE FIRST STARTED TALKING ABOUT GREEN ROOFS, IT WAS ALWAYS LIKE, "WHAT ARE YOU DOING?" YOU KNOW, NO ONE HAD A CLUE WHAT IT WAS, AND I THINK THAT'S CHANGED QUITE A BIT.
KRISTIN GETTER, PH.D. CANDIDATE: THIS STUDY HERE WAS INSTALLED IN 2005.
JIM PECK: ROOF RESEARCH MEANS TEST AREAS, WHERE THEY LOOK AT GREEN AND TRADITIONAL ROOFS.
SENSORS IN EACH LAYER OF THE ROOFS TELL THEM WHAT'S GOING ON WITH THE TEMPERATURE.
DR. BRAD ROWE: ON A HOT SUMMER DAY, YOU SEE THE TEMPERATURE FLUCTUATION ON THE NON-GREEN ROOF GETS VERY WARM AND THEN COOLS OFF, AND THAT CONSTANT EXPANSION AND CONTRACTION IS WHAT CAUSES THE ROOF TO FAIL, WHEREAS, WITH THE GREEN ROOF, IT'S BASICALLY PRETTY FLAT -- STAYS AMBIENT TEMPERATURE.
JIM PECK: THEY'VE BEEN AT THIS FOR YEARS.
ALONG WITH THE TEMPERATURE VARIATIONS, THEY'RE ALSO LOOKING AT THINGS LIKE HOW GREEN ROOFS TAKE CARBON OUT OF THE AIR AND MAKE IT CLEANER.
KRISTIN GETTER: PLANTS TAKE OUT THE CARBON DIOXIDE THAT'S IN THE AIR -- USE IT TO CREATE SUGARS.
AND WHAT WE WANT TO KNOW IS, HOW MUCH CARBON CAN A GREEN ROOF STORE? GOT TO KIND OF START CLIPPING KIND OF HIGH.
JIM PECK: SHE CHOOSES A CHUNK OF VEGETATION AND CUTS OUT A SAMPLE.
THAT'LL BE COMPARED TO A SAMPLE FROM A NON-GREEN ROOF.
KRISTIN GETTER: PERIODICALLY, WE COME UP HERE, AND WE HARVEST THE BIOMASS SO WE CAN ANALYZE HOW MUCH CARBON IS IN THAT BIOMASS AT ANY GIVEN TIME.
JIM PECK: EVENTUALLY, THIS COULD LEAD TO HELPING OFFSET THE CARBON FOOTPRINT OF BUILDINGS.
THAT'S AN UNKNOWN -- SOMETHING FOR THE FUTURE, BUT THEY'RE WORKING ON IT HERE AT MSU.
DR. BRAD ROWE: IT'S JUST ONE MORE THING TO ADD TO THE EQUATION, WHERE I'M GONNA BUILD A BUILDING.
DO I PUT A GREEN ROOF ON IT OR NOT? AND, OF COURSE, WITH ENERGY, PRICES KEEP GOING UP AND UP, AND GREEN ROOFS ARE BECOMING MORE AND MORE FEASIBLY ECONOMICALLY.
JIM PECK: THERE ARE THE THINGS YOU CAN GAUGE, AND THERE ARE THE INTANGIBLES -- ALL THE SMALL THINGS THAT CAN ADD UP TO BIG DEMAND.
DR. BRAD ROWE: LESS DEMAND FOR AIR-CONDITIONING.
YOU'RE GONNA HAVE CLEANER AIR, LESS OZONE, POLLUTION.
THOSE ARE THE ONES THAT ARE EASY TO MEASURE, THEN YOU HAVE THINGS LIKE AESTHETICS.
STUDIES HAVE SHOWN THAT PEOPLE RECOVER MORE QUICKLY WHEN THEY'RE AROUND GREEN AND PLANTS.
JIM PECK: YOU MIGHT NOT THINK OF THIS AS AN AGRICULTURAL EFFORT, BUT MAKE NO MISTAKE -- IT'S ROOTED IN THE WAY WE GROW THINGS.
DR. BRAD ROWE: I THINK AGRICULTURE ON THE WHOLE IS CHANGING IMMENSELY.
IT'S NOT JUST GROWING CORN AND WHEAT, AND GREEN ROOFS IS JUST ANOTHER, YOU KNOW, PART OF THAT.
THE THING WITH GREEN ROOFS IS, IT INVOLVES A LOT OF OTHER PEOPLE -- ENGINEERING, BUILDING, CONSTRUCTION.
IT'S NOT JUST, YOU KNOW, GOING OUT IN A FIELD AND PLANTING CORN OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT.
THERE'S MORE THINGS INVOLVED.
KRISTIN GETTER: I JUST THINK GREEN ROOFS ARE REALLY NEAT.
IT'S A GREAT WAY TO BRING NATURE BACK TO THE URBAN ENVIRONMENT.
JIM PECK: AND THAT IS AN IDEA JUST ABOUT EVERYONE SEEMS TO LIKE THESE DAYS.
[ BIRDS CHIRPING ]
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