Explorable Images for Science Communication and Learning
Explorable Images is a design research collaboration between the University of Pittsburgh, Carnegie Mellon University and Carnegie Museum of Natural History to develop an open access cyberlearning infrastructure that enables creation, exploration, mediation and conversation around geolocated, high-resolution gigapixel imagery and data representations over time. Central to our work is the belief that learning to see, and seeing to learn is a fundamental practice of science. Funded by NSF, we are designing, developing and producing a set of
demonstration projects to study how explorable image technology can support innovative forms of participatory science learning through observation.
Gigapixel Applications for Museum Environments
The
project team is guided by three approaches to public-science learning interactions: Public Understanding of Science (PUS), Public Participation in Scientific Research (PPSR), and Public Engagement with Science (PES). Each demonstration project draws on the scientific research expertise and collections of our natural history museum partner In addition to understanding learning and engagement impacts on public target audiences, we will study whether these experiences change the perceived attitudes and abilities of scientists and museum professionals involved to design more participatory kinds of public engagement and learning experiences.
