Sustainability, the second installment of the Global Challenges public radio series co-produced by WFYI and the Purdue University College of Engineering, examines what’s being done — both on a large scale and small scale — to address our nation’s energy needs and environmental challenges. Narrated by Barbara Bogaev (former host and editor of Weekend America), this nationally-syndicated program will mark its broadcast premiere on Wednesday, April 22 at 7 pm (repeats Sunday, April 26 at 6 am) on WFYI Public Radio 90.1 FM HD 1.

“The Global Challenges series reflects WFYI Public Radio’s commitment to produce high-caliber public affairs programs that impact the lives of our listeners,” said Richard Miles, WFYI’s Vice President of Audio Services and Television Programming. “We’re delighted to be collaborating with Purdue University’s College of Engineering on this timely radio series.”

Sustainability examines a handful of innovative developments that may benefit from the Obama Administration’s push for renewable energy and clean technologies. Listeners will be introduced to an MIT professor who has invented a solar cell that not only works at night, but in the rain; a group of New York City sanitation engineers who have cleaned up the dead zones in the East River using a process they invented that could revive oceans and rivers all over the world; Hoosier researchers who are transforming municipal solid waste into ethanol; a California company that captures CO2 as it’s being emitted from power plants and seals it away so that it never gets into the atmosphere; and a team of experts that has developed special sidewalks that will remove CO2 from the air.

“This series of radio programs is designed to spotlight engineering’s role in solving pressing global challenges,” said Rwitti Roy, former director of marketing and communications for the College of Engineering and now Purdue’s senior director of brand and advertising. “Certainly finding ways to ensure the sustainability of our planet is one of those challenges.”

For nearly four decades, WFYI Public Broadcasting has served as a center for discovery for all ages. WFYI’s wide variety of public radio and television programs and services provide a foundation for early learning, inspire curiosity and serve as a catalyst for lifelong learning. For more information on WFYI’s programming and educational outreach services, visit wfyi.org.