NBCUniversal & Shell to Celebrate STEM Innovations with Robust Cross Portfolio Campaign

New York, NY, March 31, 2015 – NBCUniversal and Shell today announced an interactive campaign to celebrate Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM)  ideas and initiatives across the News Group portfolio, and in advance of Shell Eco-marathon (April 10-12), which moves to its new home in Detroit. The cross platform Shell-sponsored campaign, anchored in NBC News’ TODAY, aims to inspire youngsters around the country and celebrate those who have developed innovative, energy efficient solutions for the future.

Shell Eco-marathon Americas 2015 challenges more than 1,000 high school and university students from across the Americas to design and build ultra-energy efficient cars to drive the furthest using the least energy. An anthem spot featuring Jay Leno, star of CNBC’s upcoming new primetime show, along with a Shell Eco-marathon contestant team will air across NBCUniversal properties to drive awareness around the Shell Eco-marathon program. Jay Leno also will attend Shell Eco-marathon on April 12 to meet more student teams. The anthem spot was produced by NBCUniversal’s Content Innovation Agency and developed in partnership with MediaCom.

"This is a great learning experience for me as well,” said Jay Leno. "These kids are teaching me a lot about electronics and automotive hybrid technology, then I get to show them what the heck a carburetor is."

Additionally, as part of the Shell sponsorship, using the #makethefuturecontest hashtag, TODAY encouraged parents to nominate youngsters with amazing STEM ideas and inventions.  The winning submission will be announced during a three-day “Drive the Future” series airing April 8-10 on TODAY. The “Drive the Future” series also will feature student-designed vehicles and an editorial focus on young inventors, as Shell Eco-marathon visits the TODAY Plaza.

“The NBCUniversal partnership allows us to share what Shell is doing to promote human ingenuity. It's about inspiring bright young minds to become the future Scientists and Engineers, who will help solve the energy demands of the future,” said Dean Aragon, Global VP Brand and CEO Shell Brands International AG.

“The partnership puts a spotlight on Shell Eco-marathon, a global competition wherein high school and university students are challenged to design, build and drive extremely energy-efficient vehicles. It’s a great way to learn and apply innovative ways of pushing the limits on efficiency, as we hit the road and motor the Americas event to its new home – Detroit, this April. ”

Following Shell Eco-marathon Americas in Detroit, NBCUniversal’s Content Innovation Agency also will produce a digital video profile series highlighting several Shell Eco-marathon contestant teams from a number of universities and high schools that will be promoted across the NBCUniversal News Group portfolio. This video series will be developed in partnership with MediaCom.

“TODAY and CNBC are among the most forward-looking and passionate multiplatform brands, and we are proud to partner with Shell to rally around this important cause,” said Alison Tarrant, Client Solutions Group, NBCUniversal. “This campaign highlights the unmatched opportunities for marketers to harness the power of the reach and scale, along with creative custom content capabilities, here at NBCUniversal.”

This partnership with Shell is part of NBCUniversal’s dedication to educating viewers and consumers around key issues, including STEM-related programming. Most recently, NBCUniversal celebrated Pi Day under the “Pi is Universal” umbrella with a full slate of technology-themed content, social media activations and consumer events.

MediaCom, Shell’s agency of record, was integral to developing the concept for Shell and coordinating with NBCUniversal.

About NBCUniversal

NBCUniversal is one of the world’s leading media and entertainment companies in the development, production, and marketing of entertainment, news, and information to a global audience. NBCUniversal owns and operates a valuable portfolio of news and entertainment television networks, a premier motion picture company, significant television production operations, a leading television stations group, world-renowned theme parks, and a suite of leading Internet-based businesses. NBCUniversal is a subsidiary of Comcast Corporation.
To learn more visit: www.nbcuniversal.com

About Shell Oil Company

Shell Oil Company is an affiliate of the Royal Dutch Shell plc, a global group of energy and petrochemical companies with 93,000 employees in more than 90 countries. We deliver a diverse range of energy solutions and petrochemicals to customers worldwide. These include transporting and trading oil and gas, marketing natural gas, producing and selling fuel for ships and planes, generating electricity and providing energy efficiency advice.

We also produce and sell petrochemical building blocks to industrial customers globally, and we are investing in making renewable and lower-carbon energy sources competitive for large-scale use. In the U.S., we operate in 50 states and employ more than 20,000 people delivering energy in a responsible manner.

About Shell Eco-marathon

Shell Eco-marathon is a global program that challenges high school and college student teams to design, build and test the most energy-efficient vehicles. With annual events in the Americas, Europe and Asia, this innovation competition pushes future scientists and engineers to travel the farthest distance using the least amount of energy. Shell Eco-marathon Americas 2015 will take place April 10th-12th on the streets of Downtown Detroit and is free and open to the public. Visit www.shellecomarathon.us to learn more about this weekend of free programs for all ages.

About MediaCom

As “The Content + Connections Agency,” MediaCom works with its clients to leverage their brands’ communications systems to produce a step change in business outcomes. MediaCom delivers not just individual channel silo efficiencies, but also connected communications effectiveness by developing and optimizing all content – defined as any form of consumer messaging – as the fuel that drives high-performing systems. MediaCom measures and quantifies communications systems across paid, owned and earned media through its unique Connected System Audit.

MediaCom is one of the world’s leading media communications specialists, with billings exceeding US$29 billion (Source: RECMA 2013). It employs 6,250 people in 122 offices across 97 countries around the globe. Its client roster includes P&G, VW Group, Dell and Universal. MediaCom is a member of WPP, the world's largest marketing communications services group, and part of GroupM, WPP’s consolidated media investment management arm.