What is D4K: Dialogue for Kids?

D4K is a great web & broadcast project with many different ways to learn about science. This project includes a series of monthly programs, airing September to May, hosted by Joan Cartan-Hansen. There are also video shorts and Web-Only programs, facts, links, archived programs and lots more. D4K is designed to introduce science topics to elementary-age school children.

When is the broadcast show?
The live broadcast D4K shows air the third Tuesday of each month during the school year at 2:00/1:00 p.m. MT/PT. You can watch the broadcast show on Idaho Public Television or watch it here on the D4K website. You can also watch our past programs.

How do I get my question on the air?
First, you have to send it in! This year we're taking two kinds of questions — written and video. Visit our Contact Us page to send a written question via email. Or, visit our Video Questions page for all the ins and outs of how to submit a video question.

There is no guarantee your question will get answered on air, but questions that are well thought out and submitted early are more likely to make it on the show. Here are the deadlines for submission for the 2012-2013 season:

Show Topic
Galaxies
Sound
Dinosaurs
Nervous System
Electricity
Nutrition
Bears
Light & Color
Bees
Question Deadline
September 1st
September 25th
Questions not taken
October 1st
November 1st
December 1st
January 1st
February 1st
March 1st
Air Date
September 18th
October 16th
November 20th
December 18th
January 15th
February 19th
March 19th
April 16th
May 21st

How do I win stuff for my classroom?
Anyone between the ages of 4 and 13 who submits a question for a show is entered into the drawing. There are some restrictions. Check out the rules on our contest page.

I sent in a question asking for a response and didn't hear anything. What happened?
Sorry, we can't answer individual questions. We can only take in questions for our experts to answer on the air. If you have a specific question you need answered, check out the facts and links on each archived show's page.

How do you pick topics for the shows?
The show's producer, Joan Cartan-Hansen, meets with educators and the show's partners to develop each season's topics. These partners include the Idaho Department of Fish and Game, the Idaho National Laboratory, the Bureau of Land Management and the U.S. Forest Service. Other agencies like NASA also contribute to the show. We also love to hear from students and teachers about show topics. Do you have a suggestion? Send it in.

Who pays for D4K?
The Laura Moore Cunningham Foundation is our program's sponsor. We really appreciate their support.

Who makes D4K?
It takes a lot of great people to bring D4K to the air and to the Web. Here is the staff list with titles:

Joan Cartan-Hansen, Producer/Host
Al Hagenlock, Director/Editor
Jay Krajic, Videographer
Kris Freeland, Web Producer
Peggy Hurd, Web Content Writer
John Britschgi, Web Coder
Stephanie Dickey, Web Design
Rick Penticoff, Web Development
Paul Sahner, Web Homepage Artist
Strikefish, Flash Developer
Lisa Sommer, Print Graphic Design
Cassandra Groll, On-air Digital Graphic Design
Anne Peterson, Promotion
Bob Evancho, Promotion
Craig Koster, Chief Engineer
Michael Studor, Boise Engineer
Andy Miles, Boise Engineer
Ken Segota, Moscow Engineer
Dave Turnmire, Pocatello Engineer
Dan Ward, Digital Systems Broadcast Operator
Jeff Tucker, Production Manager
Bruce Reichert, Executive Producer
Ron Pisaneschi, Director of Content
Peter Morrill, General Manager

D4K Awards

2012

Gold, Education, Worldfest: The Houston International Film and Video Festival
Finalist, Educational/Instructional, New York Film Festival
Second Place, "D4K Snakes," Public Affairs Program-Studio, The Idaho Press Club Awards
Third Place, Television Writing, The Idaho Press Club Awards
Second Place, Website-Special-Purpose-Broadcast, The Idaho Press Club Awards
Second Place, Specialized Web Site, Society of Professional Journalists, Region 10

2011

Golden Eagle, Children's Programming, Council on International Non-theatrical Events (CINE)
First Place, Teacher Resources, National Educational Telecommunications Assoc. (NETA)
Special Jury Prize, Educational/Children, Worldfest Houston International Film & Video Festival
Emmy Nomination, Joan Cartan-Hansen, Writer/Program, National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences, Northwest Chapter
First Place, Web Only: "Exoplanets," Website, Special Purpose, Idaho Press Club
Second Place, "Joan's Science Blog," Best Use of Social Media, Idaho Press Club
Third Place, Joan Cartan-Hansen, Television Writing, Idaho Press Club
Third Place, "D4K," Public Affairs Program, Idaho Press Club
Honorable Mention, "Food Web," International Wildlife Film Festival

2010

Emmy Winner, 10th Anniversary Special, Children, Program Special
Golden Eagle Award, 10th Anniversary Special, Children's Programming, Council on International Non-theatrical Events (CINE)
First Place, 10th Anniversary Special, Instructional Media/Content, National Educational Telecommunications Assoc. (NETA)
First Place, 10th Anniversary Special, Best Audience Promotion, Idaho State Broadcasters Association
Platinum Award, 10th Anniversary Special, Education, Worldfest Houston International Film Festival
Emmy Nomination, 10th Anniversary Special, Children Program/Special
Second Place, 10th Anniversary Special, Public Affairs, Idaho Press Club
Second Place, D4K Website, Special Purpose, Idaho Press Club
Second Place, Astronomy, Best Online-Only Program, Idaho Press Club
Third Place, D4K Website, Specialized Subject, Society of Professional Journalists
Bronze Award, D4K Web Only, Education Worldfest Houston International Film Festival

2009

Emmy Nomination, D4K, Children-Youth Programming, National Academy of Television Arts and Science–Northwest
Platinum, D4K Website, Interactive- Education, Worldfest
Bronze, D4K, Education, Worldfest
Bronze Telly, D4K Video Shorts, On-line Video, Telly Awards
First Place, D4K, Public Affairs- Studio Program, Idaho Press Club
First Place, D4K Website, Web Site- Specialty, Idaho Press Club
Second Place, D4K Web Extra, On-Line Only Program, Idaho Press Club

2008

Emmy, Children and Youth Programs, National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences (NATAS)
Emmy Nomination, Advanced Media: Children and Youth, National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences (NATAS)
First Place, Instructional Programming, National Educational Telecommunication Association (NETA)
Gold, D4K Web Extra, Interactive-Education, Worldfest, Houston International Film Festival
Second Place, Public Affairs-Studio Program, Idaho Press Club
Third Place, D4K Website Special Purpose Broadcast, Idaho Press Club

2007

Emmy, Children/Teen Program, National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences
Emmy, Advanced Media: Children/Teens, National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences
Finalist, Educational/Instructional Programs, New York Film Festival
First Place, D4K Website, National Educational Telecommunication Association (NETA)
First Place, Instructional Series, National Educational Telecommunication Association (NETA)
First Place, Specialty Website, Idaho Press Club
Golden Eagle, Children and Youth Programs, CINE
Silver, Education program, Telly Awards
Third Place, Public Affairs-Studio program, Idaho Press Club

2006

First Place, Website, National Educational Telecommunications Association (NETA)
Second Place, "King Tut," Public Affairs-Studio, Idaho Press Club
Bronze Award, "Archaeology," Educational/Children Category, Worldfest, Houston International Film Festival
Second Place, "D4K," Special Purpose-Broadcast, Idaho Press Club
Third Place, Website, Creative Use of the Medium, Society of Professional Journalists, Pacific Northwest

2005

First Place, Instructional, National Educational Telecommunications Association
First Place, Print Design for Poster, Promotion, National Educational Telecommunications Association
Bronze World Medal, "Space Careers," New York Film Festival, Educational/Instructional Elementary

2004

Regional Emmy, "A T-Rex named Sue, Single Spot, Non-News, National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences (NATAS)
First Place, "Space Careers," Public Affairs-Studio, Idaho Press Club
Gold, "Building Sue," Educational Commercial, Worldfest, The Houston International Film and Video Festival
Winner, "Space Careers," Children's Programming, The Telly Awards
Bronze, "Dinosaurs," Educational/Instructional Elementary, The New York Festivals
Third Place, D4K Website, Special Purpose Website, Idaho Press Club
Bronze, “Space Careers,” Educational/Instructional/Children, Worldfest, The Houston International Film Festival

2003

First Place, D4K Web Site, Instructional teacher resource, NETA Awards
Second Place, “The Brain,” Public Affairs-Studio, Idaho Press Club

2000-2002

First Place, "Dinosaurs 2," Public Affairs-Studio, Idaho Press Club
Second Place, “Dinosaurs 1,” Public Affairs-Studio, Idaho Press Club
Honorable Mention, “Astronauts,” Honorable Mention, Education, National Park Partnership Awards, National Park Service
*given as part of award prepared by NPS officials at Craters of the Moon National Monument
BLM's 2000 Excellence in Interpretation/Environmental Education Award
* given to BLM for their work with the D4K project