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Connecting the public with the natural world via emerging technologies
Miami Blue Butterfly
We partnered with the Florida Museum of Natural History in the development of an augmented reality campaign in support of conservation efforts for the Miami blue butterfly, once common throughout coastal southern Florida and now among North America’s rarest insects. For more information about the museum’s Miami blue research program, visit: https://www.flmnh.ufl.edu/science/mia... Florida Museum video by Chris Johns Music: Broke For Free - Golden Hour; brokeforfree.com
01 Libraries of Life
The app was used with some 2,000+ museum and conference visitors at numerous outreach events held nationwide with 6k app downloads.
-The Libraries of Life website has had 35,000 page views and 25,000 visitors since 2017.
-The U.S. and Canada were the top two users of the app followed by Mexico at number three.
In 2014 ExplorMor (a spin-off entity of Arizona State University) developed an augmented reality app. The app was co-developed in partnership with Florida State University and iDigBio at the University of Florida. The app was used in national outreach campaigns in partnership with museums, government, and nonprofit organizations with the goal to connect audiences with natural history specimens while also gaining an understanding of current environmental threats and conservation efforts (www.libraries-of-life.org).
While proven as an effective outreach tool there remains questions as to how might the app be used beyond the initial engagement and fascination of the technology. There is currently much research focused on how might AR be used to enhance learning such as memorization, spatial-based learning, etc. Initial observations of adult learners in a GED program showed that students preferred observing specimens via the app rather than a microscope. This was especially true for those who were unfamiliar with or even uncomfortable in using a microscope.
In 2019 the Libraries of Life app was a Katerva Awards finalist in the category of behavioral change and public awareness of our environment.
Public Outreach Campaign with USDA: Asian Long-horned beetle
Public Outreach Campaign: Florida Museum of Natural history. Promoting awareness of Florida's endangered butterfly species
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