The ISMN Project extends DigitalOcean capabilities and content to fill the science content needs of professionials in museums, science centers, and aquariums; ISMN also brings new ocean data viewing tools to this effort; ISMN workshops will create story-driven ocean science pages, similar to those used in the DigitalOcean SeaPedia. These stories will be enhanced and updated by the ISMN community.
Extending DigitalOcean opportunities to museums, science centers, and aquariums.

This project is aimed directly at the content needs of informal science education (ISE) professionals. Professionals in ocean-focused centers will find new links to forefront research, data, and multi-resolution content. Professionals in centers that have limited ocean science capabilities will find compelling content— with real science explanations and recommendations for use—that will enable them to expand their offerings. All of these professionals will be invited to join the ISMN Social Network, based on technology built for the DO ECOS Network.

Despite the growth of Internet search capabilities, there remains a huge gap between most of the searchable content and the needs of museum professionals for useable content. A search on Google Images for “ocean” returns almost two million images. More than ninety-five percent of these are “web resolution” images; almost none have rights for reuse. On the data side, researchers mine growing archives of ocean and climate data, but migrating the data to informal education remains an elusive goal. The Network will leverage high-quality, reusable media generated by DigitalOcean provider/users. This system will enable informal science education professionals to find what they need and use what they find. The DigitalOcean ISM Network will make its impact on the capabilities of our nation’s many science centers, museums, and aquariums to add or enhance their institution’s ocean science content, even if they do not have an ocean scientist on staff.

Exhibitors at informal science education sites commonly talk about “the story.” They need content that they can present in terms of a compelling story. And they want to shape the story to fit the needs of their own institution, capturing local interests. Science-driven stories lead learners into the natural world and the scientific mysteries that are currently being explored. Today much of this exploration involves data resources, either from remote sensing platforms or in situ devices. Combined with other media, science data visualizations reveal the struggle of scientists to understand the planet, and the challenges that the biologically complex ocean ecosystem faces from human demands on its resources.

The Network will have ready access to the scientists and the research networks of UCSB’s Marine Science Institute (http://www.msi.ucsb.edu), the National Center for Ecological Analysis and Synthesis (http://www.nceas.ucsb.edu), the Partnership for the Interdisciplinary Study of Coastal Oceans (http://ucsb.piscoweb.org), and the outreach efforts of the ocean-related Long Term Ecological Research centers (http://www.lternet.edu) and the Centers for Ocean Sciences Education Excellence (http://www.cosee.net). The Foundation for Earth Science is the managing organization for the Federation of Earth Science Information Partners, with 100 member projects including all of the NASA and NOAA data centers. Connecting research and education is worthwhile and difficult. The first step in impacting education is to start with the best research. The collaborative connects ISE professionals to a wealth of forefront ocean science research.

DO-ISMN will also offer annual workshops that bring together ocean scientists, informal science educators, and data providers to develop theme-based content modules for use by exhibit-and educational materials developers in informal science centers. The workshops provide opportunities for participants to learn from each other and communicate about needs, practices, expectations, and opportunities. Scientists and data specialists learn about the needs of the education community and work to make their research, data, and results available to them. Educators gain a deeper insight into current research, data analysis, and get insight into how to communicate about global ocean issues to a broad audience.

The ISMN will showcase how the DO core system and content can be extended to new audiences of real value to ocean education and public awareness.