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LIVING SHORES GALLERY MX964015
Impact/Purpose:
Background: The Texas State Aquarium (Aquarium) is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit, non-tax supported, education-serving institution. Its primary mission is to inspire appreciation and wise stewardship of the Gulf of Mexico through quality education and conservation programs. Almost 500,000 visitors tour the Aquarium each year. In addition, over 60,000 students participate in programs offered at the Aquarium and on school campuses via outreach. The Aquarium is dedicated to educating students, teachers, and the general public about the Gulf of Mexico, the conservation of its resources, and the preservation of its habitats. As a Coastal America Coastal Ecosystem Learning Center, the Texas State Aquarium works with federal agency resources to raise public awareness of coastal issues and encourage involvement in activities that benefit coastal ecosystems.
Objectives: The Texas State Aquarium will completely re-design and renovate the current Texas Bays & Estuaries exhibit to create the Living Shores gallery. Originally constructed in 1990, Texas Bays & Estuaries was modified in 1998. It is due for modernization, enhancement, and upgrade to increase public awareness of valuable Gulf of Mexico resources, key environmental issues, and actions underway or needed to solve certain problems. The new Living Shores will focus on the entire shoreline ecosystem, including estuarine, barrier island, and nearshore habitats. Visitors will explore the vital role that marshes, bays, seagrass beds, and barrier islands play in the ecology of the oceans. Components of the gallery could include aerial photos of propeller scars in seagrass beds; information on seagrass protection, public health issues associated with estuaries and water quality; graphics depicting the estuary-to-barrier island transition; aquariums containing estuarine and shoreline animals; and interactives to further engage visitors.
The Living Shores gallery will be completed in two phases. Phase I will include conceptual design and design development, development and installation of an touch screen interactive computer kiosk, and implementation of the Keepers of the Coast Club. Phase II will complete the project through replacement of remaining gallery components. Phase I of the project is addressed in this Scope of Work.
The Texas State Aquarium developed and implemented the Keepers of the Coast (KOTC) program in 2000. KOTC goals are to increase watershed awareness; emphasize linkages between inland and coastal habitats; and encourage the sustainability of local resources, watersheds, and coastal waters. KOTC connects students to their local environment, connects their environment to the coast and the Gulf of Mexico (making it relevant), and encourages individual actions that will protect these valuable resources. KOTC has provided over 230 teacher contacts and over 10,000 student contacts since Fall 2000. The Aquarium plans to expand the reach of KOTC to the general public through establishment of the Keepers of the Coast Club (Keepers Club). The initiation requirements will be to take a marine conservation pledge and provide an email address to receive information on upcoming programs and conservation ideas. To further our marine conservation efforts, a one-stop marketplace for marine conservation information will be created on the Aquariums website.
The Keepers Club will be introduced in Spring 2004 via the Aquariums web site and a media campaign. Phase I of Living Shores will provide an additional opportunity for the public to enroll in the Keepers Club via the interactive computer kiosk. The Aquariums web site address will also be provided at that venue, directing visitors to further information on marine conservation.
Description:
An interactive computer kiosk will allow the Texas State Aquarium to deliver a considerable amount of information in an efficient and highly effective manner. Touch screen interactives have proven to be excellent teaching tools in the Aquarium's Jellies: Floating Phantoms gallery. As the general public becomes more technologically aware and comfortable with technology as a tool, the need for educational facilities to stay on the cutting edge becomes greater. Technology is now an integral part of children's lives, both at home and at school, and they expect integration of technology into more and more aspects of learning. An interactive computer kiosk will allow visitors to learn at their own pace, decide which topics to explore, and decide how deep into the topic they want to journey. The kiosk will meet Americans with Disabilities Act requirements.