BOSTON [March 17, 2011) -- The NOVA science series announced today plans to team up with Pioneer Productions to produce Japan’s Killer Quake, an original one-hour documentary that takes viewers moment by moment through Japan’s devastating earthquake and tsunami. The film is slated to air on WTVP Wednesday, March 30th at 8:00PM and again on Sunday, April 3rd at 3:00pm.

Through first person accounts from those who survived, and from experts and scientists currently on the scene, Japan’s Killer Quake gives scientific context to the chain of events responsible for one of the most destructive disasters in recorded history.

“As we’ve seen by these recent heartbreaking events, there are forces of nature beyond our control that continue to shape our planet in monumental ways,” said NOVA’s Senior Executive Producer Paula Apsell. “In the wake of such human tragedy, NOVA seeks to investigate and understand the science in order to better predict and prepare for natural catastrophes of this kind.”

“This gripping new NOVA will examine the chain of events—from the earthquake to the tsunami to the on-going nuclear threat—to show how this disaster unfolded and explore ways in which science might protect us from a similar fate in the future,” said NOVA’s Executive Producer Howard Swartz.

NOVA and Channel 4 in the UK have commissioned Pioneer Productions— who also worked with WGBH/NOVA to produce Emergency Mine Rescue, the absorbing documentary chronicling the unfolding events of the Chilean mine disaster-- to produce Japan’s Killer Quake. Nigel Henbest will produce the film. Howard Swartz, NOVA Executive Producer, will oversee the project for WGBH/NOVA. The Commissioning Editor for Channel 4 is David Glover.

About NOVA
Now in its 38th season, NOVA is the most-watched primetime science series on American television, reaching an average of five million viewers weekly. The series remains committed to producing in-depth science programming in the form of hour-long (and occasionally longer) documentaries, from the latest breakthroughs in technology to the deepest mysteries of the natural world. NOVA airs Tuesdays at 8pm ET/PT on WGBH Boston and most PBS stations. The Director of the WGBH Science Unit and Senior Executive Producer of NOVA is Paula S Apsell.

Funding for NOVA is provided by David H. Koch, the Howard, Hughes Medical Institute,the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, and public television viewers.

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