Out on a limb - forest canopies

Environmental and Science Education is of the utmost importance to the health and longevity of our forests and the natural world. This Environmental Education project will be on informing the public about science and the environment through the use of the “Out on a Limb – Forest Canopies” diorama. Created in part by Dr. Margaret D. Lowman of New College of Florida, an expert on the tropical rain forest canopies of the world, and analyzing the effectiveness of its impact. “Out on a Limb – Forest Canopies” is a science education exhibit developed to educate people about forest canopies and illustrate the challenges of canopy access by scientists. A traveling rain forest diorama – with scaled models of scientists exploring the canopy and accompanying graphic panels and interactive activities – will circulate community venues in Southwest Florida, increasing public awareness of how forest canopies are important to all life on Earth. Canopy research provides a highly visual, exploratory approach to scientific inquiry that can be effectively communicated to school groups and the general public. The intellectual merit of the exhibit is to provide public education about forest biodiversity, how the treetops provide energy for all of life, links between the treetops and forest floor, and why citizens should conserve forests. The exhibit will eventually be permanently located at GWIZ, the Hands-on Science Museum in Sarasota, Florida where programs will be developed to present the exhibit to the public. Achieved through creating hands-on activities and curriculum related to the exhibit for field-trip groups and other visitors, as well as devising a method to track and assess the impact it has on the public. Literature on science education exhibits and their importance in augmenting science education in schools will be reviewed.