GLIN==> Illinois-Indiana Sea Grant News: Educational Web Site Tackles AIS Crime Wave

[Irene Miles <miles@uiuc.edu>]

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
 
September 29, 2005
 
Source: Robin Goettel (217)333-9448; goettel@uiuc.edu
Helen Domske (716)645-3610; hmd4@cornell.edu
Angela Archer (765)496-3722; amcbride@purdue.edu
 
Educational Web Site Tackles AIS Crime Wave
 
URBANA - Major arrests are needed in the fight against invading
aquatic plants and animals that have hitchhiked to U.S. waters and are
now on the loose. Key detectives on the case are looking for kids in
grades 4-10 who want to help book these ?bad guys? for their crimes
against the environment.
 
Nab the Aquatic Invader! Be a Sea Grant Super Sleuth is a new
educational Web site created by several Great Lakes Sea Grant programs
that provides the latest information about aquatic invasive species (AIS)
through colorful characters and a crime-solving theme. "In addition
to being clever and fun, the site is rich with curriculum for teachers
and creative educational activities for students and other online
audiences," said Robin Goettel, Illinois-Indiana Sea Grant (IISG)
education specialist.
 
"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,"
said Helen Domske, New York Sea Grant education specialist. The site is
part of the Sea Grant Nonindigenous Species Web site, which
contains a wealth of AIS information.
 
The Web site homepage
(http://www.sgnis.org/kids)
introduces student investigators to five detectives, each focused on
specific aspects of AIS criminal cases. For example, Detective Ecofriend
is an expert on the environmental effects of AIS, while Detective Dollars
and Sense investigates the economic impacts of these invaders. Each
character is a fun and colorful cartoon.
 
The Meet the Suspects page illustrates the 10 Most Wanted, a
variety of cartoon-like criminals, including Zeke "the Prowler"
Zebra Mussel, Purple "Lucky" Loosestrife and Gabby "the
Lowlife" Round Goby. Each suspect has been interrogated, and the
transcripts provide student investigators with critical information for
solving these cases. Crime solving involves taking part in quizzes,
games, and other brain teasers that test the student investigator's
knowledge about invasive species and their impacts. 
 
The site, which has been pilot-tested, contains a wealth of background
information on AIS for teachers and students in the form of Web links.
"Resources for teachers on this site are just about countless,"
said Goettel. "They can find links to curriculum, videos, CDs, fact
sheets, books, maps, posters, and more. These resources can complement a
teacher's existing curriculum, for example, the subject of aquatic
invasions fits in nicely with studies on habitats and
ecosystems."
 
On the Kids' Secret Headquarters page, the site provides
opportunities for interacting with scientists, displaying student-created
projects, solving riddles and learning the latest invader news. "The
site is designed to be very interactive with opportunities to strengthen
and apply new knowledge, ask questions and share creativity," said
Angela Archer, IISG Web specialist. 
 
"We now have funding from the National Sea Grant College Program to
expand the site and provide a broader perspective by adding invasive
species from waters beyond the Great Lakes," said Domske. "Sea
Grant programs in Oregon, Connecticut, and Louisiana will be adding
marine invaders to the list of suspects. We will also enhance the
educational content and incorporate more teacher-tested
activities."
 
Teachers who would like to learn more about the Web site and the issues
of AIS can attend a free Sea Grant workshop on October 27 at the Peggy
Notebaert Nature Museum in Chicago. The workshop, which runs from
1:00-5:30 p.m., will cover the Web site basics, as well as how teachers
can apply the activities to their current curriculum and help develop new
activities for the site. For more information, contact Terri Hallesy at
(217)244-8809 or thallesy@uiuc.edu. To see the workshop flyer, visit
http://www.sgnis.org/kids/NAIflyer0720-FINALpdf.pdf.
 
Until October 31, teachers are eligible to win prizes that include
classroom supplies, books and education kits donated by several school
supply companies and Sea Grant programs, by submitting their comments
about the Web site. Visit
http://www.sgnis.org/kids/contest.htm
to find an entry form.

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The Illinois-Indiana Sea Grant College Program is one of more than 32 National Sea Grant College Programs. Created by Congress in 1966, Sea Grant combines university, government, business and industry expertise to address coastal and Great Lakes needs.  Funding is provided by the National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), U.S. Department of Commerce, the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and Purdue University at West Lafayette, Indiana.

Irene Miles
Illinois-Indiana Sea Grant
376 NSRC
1101 W. Peabody Dr.
Urbana, Il 61801
(217) 333-8055
FAX (217) 333-8046