Buffalo, NY, June 09, 2009 - Nab the Aquatic Invader!, an educational Web site about aquatic invasive species, is featured this month on the Fun Zone page of the Year of Science 2009 Web site.
Nab the Aquatic Invader! is featured as part of this month’s “Ocean and Water” theme. The Web site was created by Illinois-Indiana Sea Grant along with Sea Grant programs in New York, Louisiana, Connecticut, and Oregon to provide the latest information about aquatic invasive species through colorful characters and a crime-solving theme. Since its inception, the project has expanded to include species from coastal regions around the country.
“In creating this site, our goal was bridging the knowledge gap, connecting the abundant information available on AIS with teachers and students, and presenting it in an exciting and understandable way,” says Helen Domske, New York Sea Grant education specialist and a co-creator of the concept behind the site.
"The site is clever and fun, but it’s also rich with curriculum for teachers, ideas for stewardship projects, and creative educational activities for students and other online audiences," adds Robin Goettel, IISG associate director for education, also a co-creator of the site’s concept.
In addition to visiting the Year of Science’s “Fun Zone” to check out Nab the Aquatic Invader this month, you can meet scientists, including Dr. Richard Spinrad, NOAA Assistant Administrator for Research, enter a contest to name a newly-found jellyfish, and learn ways to get involved in protecting our oceans.
Upcoming Year of Science 2009 themes include “Astronomy” in July, “Weather and Climate” in August, and “Biodiversity and Conservation” in September.
Year of Science 2009 is a 12-month celebration of how science works, why science matters, and who scientists are. It is led by participants in the Coalition on the Public Understanding of Science (COPUS), a grassroots network composed of more than 400 participating organizations representing universities, scientific societies, science centers and museums, government agencies, advocacy groups, media, educators, businesses and industry—formed in response to recent concerns about national scientific literacy.
COPUS, which began with a grant from the National Science Foundation, has grown to be an inclusive endeavor spurring communication and collaboration in the scientific community while shining the spotlight on science throughout the year. Major sponsors include the American Institute of Biological Sciences, the University of California, Museum of Paleontology, the Geological Society of America, and the National Science Teachers Association.
