2008 Alaska Park Science Symposium
October 14, 2008
Public Outreach: Using Interpretation and Technology to Reach Further
Nichole Andler1
1National Park Service, Bering Land Bridge National Preserve, PO Box 220, Nome, AK, 99762, USA, Phone 907-443-6116, Fax 907-443-6139, nichole_andler@nps.gov
The American public is fascinated by their National Parks, the scenic grandeur, the dynamic histories, wildlife, water, recreation and the list goes on and on. This fascination is fed by education and interpretation and education and interpretation are fed by research.
Working together researchers and interpreters can increase our audiences through the use of technology. Weather stations, podcasts, short films, public service announcements and other technology provide an avenue to those audiences. These technologies are being used by the public in all age groups and opens up the arctic parks to a worldwide audience. Charismatic wildlife like grizzlies, muskox, Dall sheep, and others are of great interest to the American public. They are literally interested in the health and well-being of these animals. They want to know how healthy their oceans are. They are interested in how climate change is impacting the Arctic and more importantly their National Park lands.
Researchers and interpreters can easily work together to determine the methods that work best for each park site. It may be audio and video captured in the field while the work is happening, a question and answer session with students in schools via video conference or working on materials to include in a podcast or PowerPoint to be made available on-line.
Technology is a popular new way of reaching out and letting people into the remote and wild parks of the Arctic, generating a passionate audience of park stewards and potential future researchers and interpreters.
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