2010 Schwartz Prize Winner: New Hampshire Humanities Council
Socrates Exchange
In 2008, New Hampshire Public Radio (NHPR) approached the New Hampshire Humanities Council with the idea of offering Socratic discussions on the radio and on-line. Thus began Socrates Exchange, a project designed to appeal to the general public and high school students. Socrates Exchange uses NHPR's statewide radio network for one-hour broadcasts and NHPR's website to foster conversations beyond the radio show.
Socrates Exchange is a monthly program that asks citizens to ponder philosophical questions with contemporary relevance. Each show is anchored by a question, such as Should race matter? Are all our beliefs merely opinions, or are there some universal truths? Is it ever right to do what is wrong? Should animals have rights? Host Laura Knoy is joined at the microphone by a philosophy professor who facilitates the discussion. People call the show's 800 number to participate and post comments at NHPR.org. Four of the 14 broadcasts also have included live studio audiences of adults and high school students.
Fourteen programs later, 40,000 people are tuning in each month, 19 New Hampshire schools are incorporating Socrates Exchange into their curricula, the Socrates Exchange page at NHPR.org has received 27,530 visits, 1,292 comments (and counting) have been posted at the site, and 100 students and teachers have gathered for a day of Socratic discussion.
Learn more about Socrates Exchange:
Schwartz Prize nomination materials
Website: http://www.nhpr.org/special/socratesexchange