Narragansett, R.I. -- May 15, 2001 --
The
Discovery
of Coastal Environments (DOCE), a
website designed to educate teachers,
students, and the general public about
Rhode Island’s coastal ecosystems,
has been chosen as a finalist in the
Environment, Energy & Agriculture
category of the Computerworld Honors
Collection. The website, which takes
visitors on virtual field trips to four
distinct coastal ecosystems, was conceived
and developed by Gail Scowcroft, Associate
Director of the University of Rhode
Island’s
Office
of Marine Programs.
Established in 1988, the Computerworld
Honors Program brings together the
Chairmen or Chief Executive Officers of
the one hundred foremost information
technology companies in the world to help
leading universities, libraries, and
research institutions document the global
information technology revolution.
Nominated for the Computerworld award
by Ivan Seidenberg, Chairman of Verizon
Communications, DOCE was launched by the
Office of Marine Programs in November of
1998. During the first week of its web
debut, the site logged more than 13,000
visitors and continues to average close to
10,000 visits per week.
Under Scowcroft’s direction, the
DOCE project brought scientists and
educators together to create an Internet
site that brings the visitor on virtual
field trips to the rocky shore, sandy
beach, salt march, and coastal lagoon or
salt pond. In addition, the site
integrates the use of GIS (Geographic
Information Systems) maps, the cultural
history, and the physical characteristics
of the regions. It also contains a photo
gallery of all the animals, plants, and
algae that live in each ecosystem.
"The Discovery of Coastal Environments
site provides a glimpse into the world of
the coastal scientists who are studying
problems such as coastal erosion and
pollution," said Scowcroft, a resident of
Narragansett. "Children visiting the site
come away inspired and adults discover
what a critical resource these regions
are. We want people to become aware of the
challenges that face us as we strive to
preserve and protect them for future
generations."
The DOCE project was funded by the
Eisenhower Professional Development
Program of the Rhode Island Department of
Higher Education. A new website is being
planned for launch in November of this
year. Building on DOCE, the Discovery of
Estuarine Environments (DOEE) will allow
students to take virtual field trips from
their classroom into the waters of
Narragansett Bay. This new site is being
developed in partnership with the
Narragansett Bay Commission. It will also
give teachers, students, and the general
public access to data that is being
collected by several buoys stationed in
the bay.
Scowcroft and the other finalists will
be honored at a formal award ceremony on
June 4 in Washington, DC, at the National
Building Museum.
The Discovery of Coastal Environments
can be viewed on the Internet at
http://omp.gso.uri.edu/edu/doce/doce.htm.
Established in 1986 as the marine and
environmental outreach arm of URI's Office
of the Vice Provost for Marine Programs,
OMP's targeted audiences include educators
and students at all levels, the general
public, volunteers, scientists and
engineers, journalists and the media,
alumni, donors, and friends of the
Graduate School of Oceanography. Housed in
the Coastal Institute at URI's
Narragansett Bay Campus, OMP outreach
efforts are focused in the areas of marine
and environmental education and science
communications.
Contact: Lisa Cugini, (401) 874-6642,
lcugini@gso.uri.edu
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