Event Kicks Off Next Phase of ScienceToGo.org Public-Education Campaign
05/05/2014
Media contacts:
UMass Boston – Anna Pinkert, Anna.Pinkert@umb.edu, 617-287-5459
UMass Lowell – Christine Gillette, Christine_Gillette@uml.edu, 978-934-2209
Museum of Science – AJ Gosselin, AGosselin@mos.org, 617-589-0251
* Media Advisory *
Thursday, May 8
Noon to 2 p.m.
What: ScienceToGo.org, a year-long campaign to engage the public in learning about climate change, will hold a kickoff event for its latest phase, “Storm Surge in Boston,” designed to show how the city’s landscape could change dramatically as the result of global warming.
ScienceToGo.org, which brings science education out of the classroom and into everyday life, is a joint project of educators and scientists from UMass Lowell, UMass Boston, Hofstra University and the Museum of Science whose efforts are supported by a National Science Foundation grant.
ScienceToGo.org teaches climate science using events like “Storm Surge in Boston,” social media and public transportation signage in partnership with the Massachusetts Bay Transit Authority.
The campaign launched in October 2013 with the introduction of posters and car cards aboard the MBTA’s Red and Orange line trains and in stations to encourage the 500,000 commuters who ride the public-transit routes daily to learn more about climate science. Each month, T riders are introduced to new messages from “Ozzie the Ostrich” and his flock, who, instead of putting their heads in the sand on the issue, share insights about how climate change affects the Boston area and how the public can get involved with efforts to avert it.
“Storm Surge in Boston” shows key points in the city to which sea level would rise if climate change continues unchecked. Ozzie and his fellow birds, in the form of 8-foot-tall blue ostrich figures, are stationed at eight locations around Boston – Christopher Columbus Waterfront Park, USS Constitution Museum, Faneuil Hall Marketplace, Children’s Wharf, South Station and the Airport, Aquarium and JFK/UMass MBTA stations.
The May 8 kickoff event features activities from the Museum of Science focused on climate change. Representatives of ScienceToGo.org will be available to talk about the innovative campaign’s goals and the latest phase.
As part of the month-long “Storm Surge in Boston,” members of the public can participate in the “Awesome Ostrich Adventure” scavenger hunt by using social media to share photos with the ostriches in all eight locations. The public can also interact with Ozzie via @BostonOstrich on Twitter, on Facebook at www.facebook.com/sciencetogo and with the new “PaparOzzie” mobile app – available at www.sciencetogo.org – that allows users to take a photo with Ozzie and post it.
Where: Christopher Columbus Waterfront Park, Atlantic Avenue and Richmond Street, Boston