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³ÉÈËÂÛ̳ Scotland's in-house factual department is producing a number of short science films for The One Show. A total of 19 short films have been commissioned for 2009/10 rising to 40 films for transmission in 2010/11.

The first film will be broadcast tonight on the ³ÉÈËÂÛ̳ One show at 7.00pm; topics over the coming weeks range from mould microbes to the debate about how much water we should drink.

³ÉÈËÂÛ̳ Scotland is also developing new projects for ³ÉÈËÂÛ̳ One with presenter Jimmy Doherty in the wake of Jimmy Doherty In Darwin's Garden, a ³ÉÈËÂÛ̳ Scotland in-house production which was a pivotal part of the ³ÉÈËÂÛ̳'s recent Darwin season.

These projects will focus on Jimmy's acknowledged interest in food production with a one-off documentary, Field To Plate, looking at the import industry and how food from all over the world arrives in our stores, while another six-part series for ³ÉÈËÂÛ̳ One, Jimmy's Food Factory, will look at the science behind many of the modern foodstuffs that we generally take for granted.

³ÉÈËÂÛ̳ Scotland's in-house factual department are also making a three-part series The Cell for ³ÉÈËÂÛ̳ Four, looking at cellular biology and the importance of the cell in the origins and mysteries of life.

Creative Director of Specialist Factual, Jill Fullerton Smith, says: "It is an interesting time for science television as the ³ÉÈËÂÛ̳ builds up to its Year of Science in 2010. Getting science programming right is a challenge – we need to meet the demands of a modern audience, to make science entertaining and fresh but also challenge the audience too. There is definitely an appetite for science programming which does that."

Scotland's scientific achievements are also to be celebrated in a new series for ³ÉÈËÂÛ̳ Scotland.

A three-part series, Scots Who Made the Modern World, will focus on Scottish pioneers in the fields of medicine, engineering and communication technology.

The hour-long episodes are being produced by IWC Media and are due to be transmitted on ³ÉÈËÂÛ̳ Scotland later this year.

³ÉÈËÂÛ̳ Scotland has also entered into a co-production deal with Screen Australia for a documentary, Heartbreak Science, which takes a new look at heart disease, a major killer in both countries.

The hour-long documentary will feature case studies from Scotland alongside contributions from some of the country's top heart specialists, as well as international experts from Australia and the USA.

Donalda MacKinnon, Head of Programmes at ³ÉÈËÂÛ̳ Scotland, says: "Scotland has a recognised strength in factual programming which we are aiming to develop further. Science programming in particular represents an interesting opportunity to widen the scope and breadth of what we deliver to audiences in Scotland and across the rest of the UK."

As well as programming for adults, ³ÉÈËÂÛ̳ Scotland also has science-related programming for children.

Simon Parsons, Head of Children's, says: "Nina And The Neurons is a science show for four to six year olds. Each programme aims to answer one simple question such as what is a rainbow or how does a vacuum cleaner work. Over four series it has progressed from general science through technology and inventions.

"And we also have Ed And Oucho's Excellent Inventions, an entertaining science show for seven to 12 year olds. Each episode follows our incompetent duo Ed and Oucho as they attempt and eventually succeed in building a fantasy invention such as an all-terrain car with custard cannon or boots that can walk on water. We've just been re-commissioned for a second series.

"There is real learning in both shows but our main ambition is to enthuse young minds and open them to science as an exciting and creative endeavour."

HM