HARBOR BRANCH MEDIA LAB - PRESS RELATIONS

The Media Lab is the main contact for all reporters, producers and other media representatives looking for information about HARBOR BRANCH research and other activities. For media inquiries please CLICK HERE.

HARBOR BRANCH MEDIA LAB - EDUCATIONAL PUBLIC OUTREACH/MULTIMEDIA PRODUCTION

Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institution's Media Lab writes, designs and edits the quarterly newsletter; the Harbor Branch Bulletin [ click here to download ] as well as developing educational programs to raise public awareness of the marine environment, illustrating how the health of our planet is inextricably linked to the state of our oceans.

The Media Lab is committed to raising awareness of complex marine habitat and fisheries conservation issues, through the development of CD-ROMs, websites, videos, and interactive public displays. The Media Lab's primary goal is to get people excited about science - to communicate the adventure of frontier research while increasing marine science literacy. By doing so, we instill an awareness of marine ecosystems as frontiers worth preserving. Programs like the Sea Profiles CD and @Sea website bring the excitement and mystery of ocean science to every desktop.

Media Lab educational programs illustrate important marine ecosystem topics that impact human and environmental health. Our work also highlights technological and scientific advancements in marine research as the keys to providing sound resource management. We feel that these programs have an impact on public opinion and that they are helping to inspire the next generation of scientists and engineers.

WEBSITES
The Harbor Branch Media Lab designs, maintains, and hosts all of the Institutions associated websites. Our sites are developed to give visitors an immersive experience into the merging of science and technology that Harbor Branch is known for. This is done through the combination of our institutions incredible imagery with the latest online technologies including IPIX, Quicktime, and Macromedia Shockwave.

Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institution - www.hboi.edu
@Sea - Ocean Science Adventures - www.at-sea.org
ACTED - Aquaculture Center for Training, Education, and Demonstration - www.aquaculture-online.org
Sea Profiles - An Interactive Journey of Ocean Exploration
The Conch Heritage Network - Save the Conch - www.savetheconch.org
Official Protect Wild Dolphins License Tag site - www.protectwilddolphins.org
North America's most biologically diverse estuary, Indian River Lagoon - www.indianriverlagoon.org
Bioluminscence Discovery - www.biolum.org
Oceans, Reefs and Aquariums Online - www.orafarm.com

EDUCATIONAL CD-ROMS
An award-winning team of multimedia producers and new-media experts create an educational experience that combines hard science with cutting edge interactive information, including full-motion video, audio, animation, illustration, and photography.

AQUACULTURE INTERACTIVE AQUACULTURE INTERACTIVE is the ultimate desktop resource for anyone interested in learning about the emerging significance of sustainable, environmentally responsible aquaculture for our future. The CD-ROM contains seven comprehensive units: History of Aquaculture, Water Quality , Aeration, Filtration, and Disinfection, Culture Systems, Nutrition, Aquatic Health, and Environmental Issues.

SEA PROFILES Sea Profiles - an Interactive Journey of Ocean Exploration is an educational program that illustrates marine science discoveries from the world known as inner space. Threats to the sea are threats to our planet's health so, increasing ocean science literacy will enable us to appreciate and protect our ocean resources. Sea Profiles is a two-CD-ROM set that focusses on the waters of Florida, Bermuda, the Bahamas, and the Sargasso Sea. Sea Profiles received a Gold Medal Award in Media Excellence in 2000.

LAKE WORTH LAGOON • URBAN ESTUARY Lake Worth Lagoon: Urban Estuary is a multimedia environmental education CD-ROM designed to help you learn about Lake Worth Lagoon, and the issues associated with protecting and managing this important portion of the Everglades watershed and the South Florida Ecosystem. This CD-ROM was produced by the Media Lab of Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institution in cooperation with Palm Beach County Department of Environmental Resources Management.

LIVING LAGOON This entertaining and educational CD-ROM contains animations, sounds, videos and interactive quizes. The IRL is the most biologically diverse estuary in North America, and has been designated as an "Estuary of National Significance". With this program you will experience an "electronic field trip" to the Indian River Lagoon. Funding for this comprehensive program was provided by HBOI, The Indian River Lagoon National Estuary Program and the US EPA.

VIDEOS
Video content is an intregal part of our productions and as a result we depend heavily on our Video Specialist, Brian Cousin. For more information on the Harbor Branch Video Production Department click here.

MUSEUM EXHIBITS
The Harbor Branch Media Lab has also produced several touch screen kiosks displayed in area museums and educational centers.

• The Enchanted Forest Sanctuary - Titusville, Florida
  
  The Media Lab developed the interactive ecosystems education kiosks showcased at The Brevard County, Florida, Environmentally Endangered Lands (EEL) Program's flagship visitor center. The exhibit was produced with a matching grant from the Florida Inland Navigation District. Media Lab staff are currently working on new exhibits for the next EEL visitor center, the Barrier Island Center which will be located in the heart of the Archie Carr National Wildlife Refuge.
• ELC - Environmental Learning Center - Vero Beach, Florida
  
  Lagoon Life was customized and installed at the Environmental Learning Center in Vero Beach, Florida.
• MOEC - Manatee Observation and Education Center - Ft. Pierce, Florida
  
  Lagoon Life is a multimedia touch screen kiosk at the Manatee Observation and Education Center, an environmental center in Fort Pierce, Florida. Lagoon Life was produced with a grant from the Florida Inland Navigation District.
• Palm Beach Maritime Museum - Palm Beach, Florida
  
  The Media Lab produced an interactive CD-ROM museum exhibit for the Palm Beach Maritime Museum. The exhibit, called The Palm Beach Coast, was developed with a grant from the Florida Inland Navigation District.
• Indian River Lagoon Museum - Melbourne, Florida
  
  The Media Lab designed and developed the Indian River Lagoon Museum at the Harbor Branch Visitor Center (which was nominated for the Governor's Environmental Education Award). Exhibits included a photo/mural wall on the history of the region, an interactive touchscreen kiosk called Panther Perspective, a manatee music video, and a back-lit photo key of species in the aquarium complete with push-button-activated fish sounds. The development of this museum was accomplished through a grant from the State of Florida, with funds provided by the sale of the "Save the Manatee" and Florida panther Florida license plates, deposited in the Save Our State Environmental Trust Fund. The interactive touchscreen kiosks are currently on loan to the Brevard Museum of Art and Science in Melbourne, Florida.

For more information please contact:
Mary Clark • mclark@hboi.edu