Santa Barbara filmmaker Levi C. Maaia’s first documentary feature is set to premiere on PBS stations in May as a one-hour special. “Pathways to Invention,” which garnered numerous “best of” awards on the film festival circuit, will be available to stream in the PBS app starting May 1.

The program offers an in-depth exploration of the world of entrepreneurial inventors. Funded by the Lemelson Foundation and UC Berkeley, and produced by Maaia Mark Productions in association with the Lemelson-MIT Program, the documentary spotlights a range of inventive minds working in fields as diverse as biotech, sustainable agriculture, and software development.

Through a series of upclose profiles, director Maaia examines the tangible impact these inventors are making across a diverse set of disciplines including biotech, medical diagnostics and prosthetics, sustainable agriculture, food production, software development, and advanced mechanics.

“We all have the power in our minds and hands to shape the world,” said Maaia, co-founder of Maaia Mark Productions with Noah Mark, an award-winning, Los Angeles-based showrunner, producer, writer and director.

“The goal of ‘Pathways to Invention’ is to inspire others to think about new ways they can create solutions to benefit their own lives and humanity at large,” Maaia said.

“Pathways to Invention” was honored with the award for Best Documentary Feature at both the Southern California Independent Film Festival and the Los Angeles Independent Film Festival Awards (LAIFFA). At the LAIFFA, Mark and Maaia were named Best Producers, Maaia received the award for Best Director of a Documentary Feature, and the composers Michael Mark and Jon Cobert were recognized for their Best Original Musical Score.

Maaia began his media career in FM radio and cable television where he became fascinated by the potential for technology to educate, and open a window on the world. From 2008-15 he developed and taught a high school STEM program at Anacapa School in Santa Barbara. He earned a Ph.D. studying maker culture and STEM education at UC Santa Barbara.

Maaia is a private, instrument-rated, land and seaplane pilot serving on the Santa Barbara Airport Commission and on the Santa Barbara Amateur Radio Club Board of Directors. He was a founding member of the ARISS-USA education committee, a NASA-sponsored outreach program aboard the International Space Station.