Educational CD-ROM release by Bigelow Laboratory for Ocean Sciences:
"Phytopia: Discovery of the Marine Ecosystem"
For more information and to order the CD-ROM see:
http://www.bigelow.org/phytopia
Bigelow Laboratory for Ocean Sciences is now offering "Phytopia:
Discovery of the Marine Ecosystem", an amazing educational CD-ROM,
through an on-line order form; it can be accessed at
http://www.bigelow.org/phytopia. If you teach (or want to learn more)
about marine phytoplankton and primary productivity, "Phytopia" has a
wealth of new images, animations, microscope- and satellite-derived data
sets, and multimedia tools to discover why the marine ecosystem is
critical to human existence. A pre-release version of the CD was tested
by students (Grade 7 - undergraduate), educators, and scientists at 34
institutions in Britain, Germany, Russia, and throughout the U.S.
Also included in "Phytopia" are three-dimensional cell models and a
virtual microscope tool for viewing of organisms at various
magnifications, under various epifluorescence techniques, and by
scanning electron microscopy. "Phytopia" has an interactive satellite
image tool that helps students understand seasonal changes in
environmental factors (sunlight, ocean temperature, wind and ocean
currents) that affect phytoplankton productivity and ocean health. These
images focus on five specific regions: the Gulf of Maine, U.S. west
coast, Gulf of Mexico, the British Isles, and South Africa. The "Bloom
Activation Tool" challenges users to create a Gulf of Maine
phytoplankton bloom by choosing sun, temperature, and wind conditions.
(Learn more by accessing a 2-page Acrobat Reader file:
http://www.bigelow.org/phytopia/phytopia.pdf).
If you would like any additional information, please contact:
Annette deCharon
Director of Outreach
Bigelow Laboratory for Ocean Sciences
180 McKown Point Rd.
W. Boothbay Harbor, ME 04575-475
http://www.bigelow.org