"SEA PROFILES" EDUCATIONAL CD-ROM IS TOP ENTRY IN NATIONAL COMPETITION FORT PIERCE, FLA., June 9 - An educational CD-ROM about the oceans that was produced by the Media Lab at Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institution and is being used in classrooms everywhere has won a prestigious national award. "Sea Profiles: an Interactive Journey of Ocean Exploration", has received the Gold Medal Award in Media Excellence from the International Television Association (ITVA), and the two-CD set has been nominated for competition at the international level, where it is in the running for the Platinum AiME. "We're extremely excited, and just proud that our CD has been recognized by our peers in this manner," said Mary Clark, who developed and produced the CD with Hunter Augustus of the Media Lab. "Sea Profiles" takes the user on an interactive journey through the Marine Sciences as they pertain to the Atlantic Ocean, the Caribbean, and the Florida Keys. There are even ongoing research products on the CD that students can use as models for their own research, or to learn how actual field studies are conducted. The New Media category in which "Sea Profiles" won combines websites, kiosk design, and interactive multimedia program entries. Programs were evaluated on content organization, graphic design and production, user interfaces, interactivity, overall design and who well these entries accomplished their stated objectives. Much of the content of "Sea Profiles" was authored by HBOI's Biomedical Marine Research Senior Scientist John Reed, who contributed hundreds of still and video images from his collection. The "Sea Profiles" CD received extensive media coverage this spring when it was introduced to a West Palm Beach magnet school for the sciences, where students were enthusiastic about its use as a teaching tool. "Sea Profiles" can be previewed on the web at www.seaprofiles.com/. "Sea Profiles took more than two years to produce, and was supported with a grant from Royal Caribbean International and Celebrity Cruises Ocean Fund, which was established in 1996 to support research and education involving the world's oceans. Additional support was provided by Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institution. Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institution, Inc. is one of the world's leading nonprofit oceanographic research organizations dedicated to the exploration of the earth's oceans, estuaries and coastal regions for the benefit of mankind.