Ocean Encounters Environmental Education Initiative

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Royal Melbourne Zoo, Australia and the Ocean Alliance- 2001-2005

The Ocean Alliance is dedicated to the conservation of whales and their ocean environment through research and education. The Royal Melbourne Zoo is a leading international educational institution in Melbourne, Australia.

With the popularity of the PBS web series, the Voyage of the Odyssey – Chris and Genevieve Johnson developed the Ocean Encounters education initiative – a series of videos, images and sounds presented on DVD with educators from the Melbourne Zoo.

The aim is to have content generated from the Voyage of the Odyssey readily accessible to the presenter/educator in an array of formats on DVD.

This digital experience will uses broadcast video, images and stereo sound to allow visitors to the zoo to experience as close as possible, what is like to be on a global scientific expedition making discoveries (virtually) with along the way.

This is not a linear program, rather a multidimensional way to access information/content from the Voyage of the Odyssey which is entertaining for the general user, yet informative enough for an educator to utilize. Content can be directed or modified to fit a variety of structures, subject areas and age groups, while still addressing specific curriculum outcomes.

There is also a ‘live’ element to the Ocean Encounters program. A component of the presentation allows students and interested members of the public to interact directly to R/V Odyssey crew and scientists for 15-20 minutes per session.

In a presentation format, the teacher/presenter would use the interactive program to help explain or visualize a certain concept. For instance, if the Melbourne Zoo has a day on the “human impacts” on the ocean environment, the presenter/educator could pull up the following content from a set of DVDs.

• The Odyssey video report entitled: “Plastics – the deadliest predator of the sea”.
• The sea turtle entanglement video, filmed by the Odyssey in the Galapagos Islands.
• Images and video interviews on the Tuna Longline, pilot whale interaction study done in Papua New Guinea.
• The Global warming audio report with images.
• An audio report on ship strikes and entanglements of northern Right whales.
• Roger Payne’s ‘Voice from the Sea’ piece on Sharking Finning, Aquarium Reef Fish trade.
• A video interview with Wood’s Hole Toxicologist, Dr. Celine Godard on toxicants in the sea.
• Audio report and images of Whale Standings around the world.

The content of the Voyage of the Odyssey is quite unique in that it contains very in-depth material not just on whales but also other issues related to all aspects of the marine environment.

During each presentation, which could last up to an hour, the teacher/presenter links to the Odyssey for a 15-20 minute question and answer session if desired via videophone.

By delivering the interactive content on a DVD, this allows the educator/presenter to use a remote control to access desired content (video, images and sounds) in a simple, convenient way while it is displayed with an LCD projector. Furthermore, it involves using one system of playback, eliminating the potential of difficulties that may be encountered with additional computer technology.

In addition, the Ocean Encounters Initiative, is a working prelude to distbute educational video and audio reports from the Voyage of the Odyssey to educators in local communities as well on a number of topics ranging from whale and dolphin biology and conservation, to ocean policy issues, natural history and information on ecology of marine creatures.

The set of DVDs are produced, filmed and photographed by Chris Johnson with educational content and curriculum produced by Genevieve Johnson. The overall aim of the Ocean Encounters program is to:

• To inform local communities about the marine life that inhabits their local waters and the open oceans
• To underscore the need to preserve the ocean as a healthy, integrated ecosystem so it can continue to play its role in securing a healthy future for local communities and all life on earth.
• To use whales to capture the attention of children, and once their interest is aroused, help them go further so they may develop informed opinions about a wide variety of ocean issues.
• To encourage students to start working for change now so when they grow up they may continue their involvement in working to improve the health of the seas.
• To encourage and model sound environmental management practices for future decision makers. Students will be able to relate to a program that focuses on the wise use and management of resources, specific to their own marine environment.
• To provide information to local communities about their local marine life so as to enable them to become aware of the risks that marine life surrounding their island home faces, and to recognize how grave that danger would be if that life was diminished or lost.
• To empower socially responsible citizens to become actively involved in protecting whales and the seas, realizing that their contributions are valuable and necessary whether made as individuals or as a member of a group.