Through the cooperation of WPSX-TV and the University Division of Media and Learning Resources, area State College teenagers have the chance to discuss current social issues with their Soviet counterparts.

This program, "Telebridges to the Soviets," uses a two-way international satellite so groups of students in the WPSX station can see and talk with Soviet students in Moscow.

These open forums include topic discussions of science, agriculture and the arts.

"They provide cultural understanding using the technology that is available to enhance teaching, learning and research," said Marlowe Froke, general manager of WPSX-TV.

The first of these programs, an open forum on science, was broadcast live in April and was the result of months of planning and communication between the two countries.

The idea was conceived last fall when a Soviet physicist, Vladimir V. Fridkin, visited the area on invitation from the University Center for Materials Research, Froke said. While visiting WPSX, Fridkin's wife, Kiseneva Nadegrada, director of children's programs for Radio Moscow, discussed ways to involve young people in radio.

Vladimir Korovin, editor in chief of programming for Soviet Television in the Moscow Region, proposed the first teleconference on the topic of science, Froke said.

Planning then got underway to make this idea a reality. Due to the language barrier and time difference between the two countries, communication was often difficult, said Anne Stevens, special assistant to the general manager of the Division of Media and Learning Resources and WPSX-TV.

Twenty State College students between the ages of 13 and 15 were chosen to participate along with Soviet exchange students from Lancaster. About 70 Soviet students gathered in the Moscow studio for the program.

"Students developed an awareness, an understanding that the Soviet students are very much like they are," Stevens said.

The two groups talked about such timely issues as ecology, global warming and alternative energy sources, though some talk about video games was also allowed.

Kyle Bernheim, a 10th grader at State College Area High School who participated in the program, said he was surprised how relaxed the Soviet students were and noted that many of them were dressed in American styled clothes.

"They were just normal kids," he said.

The series will continue Oct. 27 with a program about farming. In cooperation with the College of Agriculture, it will feature two selected area family farms. Another program on the arts in the community is also planned.

"(The Soviets) are eager to catch up with all the dynamics of fitting into a global community," Stevens said. "They're enthusiastic to learn about American Youth."

The program is also distributed to other cable networks through the Pennsylvania network PENNARAMA.