Three women – Natasha Young, Amanda Tejada and Lyndsey Lyons – confront the challenges of readjusting to civilian life after their post-9/11 military service. Once back in the United States, the women cope with the disintegration of their relationships, alcohol and substance abuse, depression, health problems, military sexual trauma, post-traumatic stress disorder, and employment difficulties.
Airs 3/25 at 8 p.m.; 3/26 at 1 a.m.; 3/26 at 9 a.m.; 3/26 at 3 p.m. 3/31 at 5 a.m.
Women account for roughly 14 percent of the active-duty U.S. military and more than 24 percent of the National Guard, yet they often receive less than a hero’s welcome upon their return to civilian life. Many face poverty, homelessness and joblessness; deal with the psychological and physiological effects of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder from military sexual trauma and combat related injuries; and often receive poor service from a Veterans Administration ill-equipped and, in some cases, unwilling to help them. The Emmy -nominated documentary WAR ZONE/COMFORT ZONE uncovers the plight of these veterans through the intense and personal stories of four women veterans coping with life after their military service. Each seeks a sense of normalcy and peace without the benefit of a comprehensive support system. WAR ZONE/COMFORT ZONE weaves together intimate interviews with the story of two women – Shalini Madaras and Joy Kiss – struggling to establish transitional housing for homeless female veterans in Bridgeport, Connecticut, despite virulent community opposition.
Airs 3/25 at 7 p.m.; 3/26 at midnight; 3/26 at 8 a.m.; 3/26 at 2 p.m.; 3/31 at 4 a.m.
A series on the changing roles of women in war and peace. The vast majority of today’s conflicts are not fought by nation states and their armies, but rather by informal entities: gangs, insurgent groups and warlords using unconventional weapons. The series reveals how post-Cold War proliferation of small arms has changed the landscape of war, with women becoming primary targets and suffering unprecedented casualties. Yet they are simultaneously emerging as necessary partners in brokering lasting peace and as leaders in forging new international laws governing conflict. WOMEN, WAR& PEACE spotlights the stories of women in conflict zones from Bosnia to Afghanistan, and Colombia to Liberia, placing women at the center of an urgent dialogue about conflict and security and reframing our understanding of modern warfare.” Actors Matt Damon, Geena Davis, Tilda Swinton and Alfre Woodard narrate.
Airs 3/26 at 10 p.m.
HARD PROBLEMS follows the six exceptional high school students who represented the United States in 2006 at the world’s toughest math competition – the International Mathematical Olympiad (IMO). Each year, the grueling and exhilarating contest pits the top teams from 90 countries against one another. In their quest to solve some of the most challenging problems, these dedicated and talented young men and women – some immigrants, others U.S.-born – shatter many stereotypes and cliches about the mathematically gifted. HARD PROBLEMS provides an insightful and thoughtful look at the process that produces and nurtures successful Olympiad teams, and ultimately, the great mathematicians of the future.
Airs 3/25 at 2 a.m.
PBS is offering a series of three webinars designed to inspire young scientists through STEAM education. PBS will provide a certificate of attendance for each one-hour virtual learning event.
Part One | Helping Students Interpret Data
March 19 @ 7PM ET
Data, data, data. Data is everywhere! How do we teach students to interpret data? To care about data? About all the cool things that can be done because of data? Look no further. Join us in this LIVE conversation with NASA experts to explore how they brought visualizations of the Earth to the palm of your hands all using, you guessed it, DATA!
Part Two | Teaching Computational Thinking
March 26 @ 7PM ET
Join in on a live conversation with Josh Caldwell from Code.Org! Josh, a former classroom teacher, is the author of “Creative Coding” and the curriculum lead at Code.Org. This one-hour live learning event will dive into the ways in which you can help students think about computational thinking in artful, creative, digestible and fun ways!
Part Three | Exploring Models Inspired by Nature
April 2 @ 7PM ET
There are so many innovations and models we use in our day-to-day life that are inspired by nature. How do you incorporate these concepts into your classroom? And how do you get students excited to learn more about it? In this last of our three-part “Inspiring Young Scientists” series, world renowned anatomist, Dr. Joy Reidenberg, and Megan Schuknecht, from the Biomimicry Institute, will join us to present ideas about the science within nature!