MTEMC Brings 'The Energy Detective' To Area Schools



MTEMC Brings 'The Energy Detective' To Area Schools

Professional actor Neil Spencer will play private detective Jimmy Ruff in “The Energy Detective,” which is sponsored by Middle Tennessee Electric.
It is private detective Jimmy Ruff’s toughest case yet: discovering the perfect energy source for generating electricity. Students at 30 schools across the Middle Tennessee Electric Membership Corporation service area will help Jimmy solve the case during the fast-paced, educational theatre presentation, The Energy Detective.

The students will get into the action as they help Jimmy, played by professional actor Neil Spencer, explore the positive and negative aspects of five different electrical energy sources: fossil fuels, solar power, water power, nuclear energy and wind power. Along the way, the students will also learn valuable lessons about how to use energy more efficiently.

“Performing The Energy Detective is a real blast,” Spencer says, “and the response from the students has been fantastic.”

MTEMC will team up with Spencer and the Educational Touring Theatre to bring The Energy Detective to MTEMC schools during the 2011-12 school year. The two groups have worked together for the past six years with the MTEMC sponsorship of Giants of Electrical Science.

“The Energy Detective encourages students to think critically,” said Cathy Mitchell, MTEMC community relations coordinator, “and it takes a hard look at the energy choices we need to make for our future.”

Schools hosting The Energy Detective performance will also have an opportunity to participate in a hands-on Energy Casebook workshop that allows students to become energy detectives and search for clues of energy efficiency and energy waste. Students discover the role of electricity in their everyday lives and how they can help the environment by using electricity safely and efficiently.

Following the goals and standards of the Tennessee Department of Education, The Energy Detective was created by the Educational Touring Theatre in partnership with the Duck River Electric Membership Cooperative. For the past three years the program has been presented at schools in the DREMC region. Now, it is MTEMC’s turn to crack the case.

Schools can learn more about the presentations by contacting the Educational Touring Theatre at edtheatre@aol.com.