ARLINGTON, Va. – Thursday, Aug. 24, 2023 – At the front lines of climate change, animals have a surprising story to tell in the newest PBS environmental docu-series, EVOLUTION EARTH. Premiering Wednesday, Sept. 6 at 10 p.m. ET (check local listings) on PBS, PBS.org and the PBS App, and narrated by evolutionary biologist Dr. Shane Campbell-Staton (Human Footprint on PBS), EVOLUTION EARTH embarks on a global expedition to reveal animals keeping pace with a planet changing at superspeed.
As an evolutionary biologist and professor, I enjoy exploring new ways to help people understand and get excited about the changing world around us,” said Dr. Campbell-Staton. “I am grateful for another opportunity to share my expertise on PBS platforms and to inspire exploration into our planet’s unique and awe-inspiring ecosystems.
Heading out across the globe to distant wilds and modern urban environments, five episodes track how animals migrate, ingeniously adapt their behavior and even evolve in accelerated, unexpected ways. Documenting this rapid change are the scientists, filmmakers, and local communities recording the animals’ stories. EVOLUTION EARTH tells a tale of resilience that redefines our understanding of evolution and hints at how nature can show a path towards a sustainable future for Planet Earth.
PBS is committed to providing best in class environmental programming and we’re excited to explore these surprising stories of resilience and adaptation,” said Bill Gardner, Vice President, Multiplatform Programming & Head of Development at PBS. “Amplified by one of our most engaging science storytellers, Dr. Shane Campbell-Staton, this project combines the best resources in public media to explore these dynamic stories about our planet and its life.
The debut episode “Earth” (Sept. 6) showcases the phenomena of evolution and adaptation to Earth’s extremes. From marine iguanas in the Galápagos shrinking their actual skeletons in response to extreme conditions to the Fongoli chimps living at the very edge of existence in a rapidly heating world, animals are acting as sentinels and helping to unlock the riddles of a changing planet.
The subsequent episodes of EVOLUTION EARTH focus on evolution stories at the frontiers of the changing planet forged by the forces of the environments they are set in and allows viewers to witness nature’s remarkable resilience.
A brief overview of each episode including premiere dates on PBS, PBS.org and the PBS app (check local listings) is outlined below:
Series Debut/Episode 1: “Earth”
Premieres: Wednesday, Sept. 6, 10-11 p.m. ET
At Earth’s extremes, animals are reacting in surprising ways. With animal’s homes changing around them at superspeed, the debut episode of EVOLUTION EARTH follows remarkable stories of resilience and hope. From humpback whales to tiny butterflies to ingenious savanna chimpanzees.
Episode 2: “Islands”
Premieres: Wednesday, Sept. 13, 10-11 p.m. ET
Islands are like miniature simplified Earths, where evolution is playing out at super speed right before one’s eyes. Journey from the Galapagos to the edge of Antarctica to seek out animals responding to the changing planet in extraordinary ways.
Episode 3: “Heat”
Premieres: Wednesday, Sept. 20, 10-11 p.m. ET
Travel to the hottest and driest extremes to see animals go to extraordinary lengths to survive. From the Sahara Desert to Australia, animals provide new clues about the changing planet and what it will mean for the future of our heating world.
Episode 4: “Ice”
Premieres: Wednesday, Sept. 27, 10-11 p.m. ET
At the planet’s frozen extremes, shifts in animal movement and behavior reveal vital information about our future world. Examine polar bears in the Arctic, penguins in Antarctica and other animals surviving in icy worlds.
Finale/Episode 5: “Grasslands”
Premieres: Wednesday, Oct. 4, 10-11 p.m. ET
Grasslands are one of the planet’s most important, yet most overlooked habitats. In the final episode of EVOLUTION EARTH, follow scientists as they discover animal species with the power to transform and restore the grasslands, turning them into carbon sinks that could slow climate change.
For more information on EVOLUTION EARTH, including clips and episode previews, visit www.pbs.org. Viewers are also encouraged to engage in online conversation about the series by tagging @PBS and using #EvolutionEarthPBS on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
EVOLUTION EARTH is produced by PASSION Planet in co-production with PBS, Love Nature and ARTE. David Allen is co-series producer; Oliver Twinch is director for “Earth” and “Islands” episodes; Charlotte Lathane is director for “Ice” and “Grasslands” episodes; Rachelle Keeling and Nick Stringer are producers and directors for “Heat” episode; and Shari De Silva is line producer for PASSION Planet. Dr. Shane Campbell-Staton narrates the series. Executive in charge for PBS is Bill Gardner.
EVOLUTION EARTH is part of a multiyear, multiplatform initiative from PBS that explores every aspect of how climate change impacts communities, countries and the entire planet. The comprehensive focus represents PBS’s biggest-ever commitment to the topic, providing a deeper understanding of the issues surrounding climate change and exploring its intersections with conservation, biodiversity and the ecosystem. PBS and its member stations will create a rich destination of storytelling that details the challenges of a changing climate while highlighting examples of hope and positive impact. More than 200 hours of climate and environmental content is currently available across PBS platforms. Learn more about PBS’s commitment to Climate, Nature & Our Planet.
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About Host Shane Campbell-Staton, Ph.D.
Dr. Shane Campbell-Staton is an evolutionary biologist and assistant professor at Princeton University. His research focuses on how human history and activity drive evolutionary change in wild species across the planet. Dr. Campbell-Staton studies a wide array of animals that are rapidly adjusting to life alongside humans, from lizards adapting to survive in cities to the evolution tuskless African elephants in response to poaching. In 2022, he was named a Pew Biomedical Scholar for his collaborative research on the evolution of cancer resilience in gray wolves living within the Chernobyl Exclusion Zone. Dr. Campbell-Staton’s research has been featured in several media outlets including the New York Times, The Atlantic, Scientific American, Science Friday with Ira Flatow, Sports Illustrated and The Daily Show with Trevor Noah. Beyond research and academics, he is passionate about sharing his love for science with a broad audience. He has been previously featured in nature and science content for various online media outlets, the Discovery Channel and the Smithsonian Channel. He is the creator and host of The Biology of Superheroes Podcast, which explores cutting-edge scientific research using stories and characters from comic books and science fiction. Most recently, Dr. Campbell-Station hosted HUMAN FOOTPRINT, a science travelogue documentary on PBS exploring how humans transform the planet.
About PASSION Planet, a PASSION PICTURES Company
PASSION Planet, a PASSION PICTURES company, is led by five-time Emmy-Award-winning producer and Managing Director, David Allen, working with producer, Gaby Bastyra. PASSION Planet’s output ranges from authored single films, like the multi-award-winning My Life as A Turkey – described by The Times as “probably the best documentary of the year” – to feature documentaries like the Emmy-winning The Serengeti Rules, and ambitious landmark series like H2O: The Molecule That Made Us, and Earth: A New Wild. More information is available online.
About PBS
PBS, with more than 330 member stations, offers all Americans the opportunity to explore new ideas and new worlds through television and digital content. Each month, PBS reaches over 42 million adults on linear primetime television, more than 15 million users on PBS-owned streaming platforms, and 56 million people view PBS content on social media, inviting them to experience the worlds of science, history, nature, and public affairs; to hear diverse viewpoints; and to take front-row seats to world-class drama and performances. PBS’s broad array of programs has been consistently honored by the industry’s most coveted award competitions. Teachers of children from pre-K through 12th grade turn to PBS LearningMedia for digital content and services that help bring classroom lessons to life. As the number one educational media brand, PBS KIDS helps children 2-8 build critical skills, enabling them to find success in school and life. Delivered through member stations, PBS KIDS offers high-quality content on TV — including a PBS KIDS channel — and streaming free on pbskids.org and the PBS KIDS Video app, games on the PBS KIDS Games app, and in communities across America. More information about PBS is available at PBS.org, one of the leading dot-org websites on the internet, Facebook, Instagram, or through our apps for mobile and connected devices. Specific program information and updates for press are available at pbs.org/pressroom or by following PBS Communications on Twitter.
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