Science BulletinsScience Bulletins

A model for sharing current scientific visualizations A model for sharing current scientific visualizations

with Informal Science Institutionswith Informal Science InstitutionsNOAA SoS Workshop Jan 22 – 24, 2007NOAA SoS Workshop Jan 22 – 24, 2007

Reaches >14 million visitors annually across the country at 40 informal learning centers

Updating, Current Science Multimedia Program

Designed for public exhibition (and disseminated on the Web)

Current space, Earth, and life science

Updates bi-weekly

High-resolution, dynamic, interpreted images

Earth Science Data Visualization

Global Remotely Sensed Data Sets- Interconnected Earth Systems- Focus on Biosphere

Dynamic Processes, Global Change, Human Impact

Key Program ElementsKey Program Elements

• Production ModelProduction Model

• Distribution ModelDistribution Model

• Dissemination ModelDissemination Model

• Ongoing EvaluationOngoing Evaluation

Production ModelProduction Model

• In-house visualization capacity, In-house visualization capacity, ongoing access to dataongoing access to data

• PhD Scientists key part of production PhD Scientists key part of production team and review of contentteam and review of content

• Design (visual elements: time, key, Design (visual elements: time, key, etc.)etc.)

• Editorial (annotations, captions, etc.)Editorial (annotations, captions, etc.)– What’s the Story?What’s the Story?

Sea Ice in the Arctic – Seasonal Sea Ice in the Arctic – Seasonal VariationsVariations

Sea Ice in the Arctic – Global ChangeSea Ice in the Arctic – Global Change

Global Cloud Data – Dynamic Global Cloud Data – Dynamic Atmosphere & Seasonal Weather Atmosphere & Seasonal Weather

PatternsPatterns

Global Cloud Data – Dynamic Global Cloud Data – Dynamic Atmosphere, Climate LiteracyAtmosphere, Climate Literacy

Distribution ModelDistribution Model• ““Turn-key” process for regular Turn-key” process for regular

updates of high-resolution contentupdates of high-resolution content

Dissemination NetworkDissemination Network• Nationally and internationally Nationally and internationally

distributed network of subscriber distributed network of subscriber sitessites

The Wildlife Experience

Science Museum of Minnesota

Snapshots of Subscriber Snapshots of Subscriber

SitesSites

Fort Discovery St. Louis Science Center

Ongoing Formative EvaluationOngoing Formative EvaluationGlobal Cloud Data VisGlobal Cloud Data Vis

Rockman, et. al ResearchersRockman, et. al Researchers

A large number of viewers… were able to convey the fact that video conveyed information about things that influence our weather, the dynamic nature of our planet, and the constant movement of weather patterns over time. One respondent commented: “When I was watching this video show I felt like I was really in the weather.”

Additionally, evaluators found viewers “eager to express their desire to know more about what causes the weather patterns that they viewed in the video. This fact suggests that they will be interested in exploring the supporting displays and materials….”

Survey Statements (scale of 1-Survey Statements (scale of 1-5) 5)

The captions in the program were helpful (3.75)

The video gave me a better sense of global weather patterns (3.52)

The video gave me a better sense of local weather patterns (3.07)

I was able to read all of the information presented on the screen (3.91)

I could tell that I was watching real data collected from earth-orbiting satellites (3.82)

I understood the information that was presented (4.15)

The video made me want to learn more about weather patterns (3.52)

Periodic Summative Periodic Summative

EvaluationEvaluationEvaluators and Subscriber Sites:

“Science Bulletins are an easy-to-use, multimedia exhibit that subscribers can employ in their own institutions and are appealing to visitors.”

- Rockman, et. al Researchers

NASA GSFC: “… good presentation of NASA’s content in Earth and space science [with] much current information.”

JPL: “… help put context around what their individual researchers are doing…. Show a diversity of people doing fieldwork, which can be an important influence on the next generation.”

NCAR: “Because SB show ‘how research works,’ they complement the work at the Center…. SB focus on science education and public literacy.”

Visitors to Museums and Science Centers:

Found Bulletins “interesting and enjoyable.”

“Felt that they would pursue their own learning of the related topic as a result of watching Science Bulletins.”

“Were likely to watch another Science Bulletin again.”

“Would recommend SB to others.”

Review by Educational Experts

“SB creates some of the best educational visualizations I have seen anywhere.”

“SB is one of the few sites that provides high quality current science content, and visually supported with animations and visuals.”

“It exemplifies what a Museum can do to support classroom learning.”

Exploring extending Science Bulletins Exploring extending Science Bulletins production capacity to Science on a production capacity to Science on a

SphereSphere

Production FormatsProduction Formats

• Flat Panel Display Flat Panel Display

• Science on a SphereScience on a Sphere

• DomeDome

Stratospheric Ozone: Natural Stratospheric Ozone: Natural VariabilityVariability

Stratospheric Ozone: Global Stratospheric Ozone: Global ChangeChange

Global Cloud Data – Dynamic Global Cloud Data – Dynamic Atmosphere & Severe WeatherAtmosphere & Severe Weather

Global Cloud Data – Dynamic Global Cloud Data – Dynamic Atmosphere & Seasonal Weather Atmosphere & Seasonal Weather

PatternsPatterns