Rita Karl

Rita Karl was a 2014 ICFJ Professional Fellow from the U.S., on the program "Unlocking the Economic Potential of Digital Media." She is the Director of STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) Outreach & Education, National Productions for Twin Cities Public Television (www.TPT.org), a nonprofit media organization that operates digital television channels and websites and produces national programs. Karl leads the development and management of STEM outreach initiatives for the Emmy award-winning television program "SciGirls." Karl builds partnerships with national and international STEM experts and institutions and seeks funding for media, web and outreach educational initiatives. Karl is helping expand SciGirls via new partnerships, interactive media and in face-to-face outreach and training. "We have added a strong transmedia connection where we connect almost seamlessly from media to interactive online gaming," Karl said.

Karl served as Director of Education for the Challenger Center for Space Science Education in Washington, D.C. from 2006 to 2012, directing the design of space-exploration simulations and educational outreach programs to inspire youth to pursue studies and careers in STEM. She served as producer for live conferences from the U.S. space shuttle and the International Space Station and produced over 100 weekly space and science podcasts and a suite of educational media with millions of online views. Karl previously served as Education Manager for the Universities Space Research Association on a variety of digital and media education and outreach projects for the U.S. National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) including the long-standing Aerospace Scholars.

From 2002 to 2005 Karl worked in Egypt as Director and Senior Education Adviser for the project "Educational Technology in Schools" funded by the U.S. Agency for International Development training thousands of teachers to use Internet-based technology in kindergarten through high school. Among many activities, she was the keynote speaker at the "Embracing Diversity Education" conference of the Egyptian Society for Developing Skills of Children with Special Needs in 2005.

"As a former educator who has a strong belief in the power of narrative and educational media, I believe that the sharing and telling of our own professional stories, through exchange programs like this one, can help us contribute more to our organizations and partner with other like-minded institutions." During her visit to Jordan, Karl hopes to learn how digital media institutions in the Middle East "use transmedia efforts to connect their broadcast or online media with social media, education and outreach programs."