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A screen shot from the front page of the PBS - Voyage of the Odyssey website |
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VOYAGE OF THE ODYSSEY WEBSITE HOSTED BY PBS
(Public Broadcast Service)
www.pbs.org/odyssey
The Voyage of the Odyssey website has been designed to be an interactive, educational adventure, allowing people all around the world to follow this amazing five-year journey via the Internet. Visitors to the website can follow the research vessel RV Odyssey as it circumnavigates the globe taking tissue samples from sperm whales in order to test the levels of toxicants these animals have accumulated, as well as encountering some amazing creatures and visiting some fascinating places along the way.
The Voyage of the Odyssey website incorporates many different educational features allowing people to learn about the purpose and procedures of the voyage. Logs from the vessel, broadcast about every other day, discuss everything from whale behaviors and biology, the marine environment where the boat is positioned, dangers threatening these ecosystems, and the cultures of the areas the boat is visiting. The "Voice From the Sea" features Dr. Roger Payne discussing issues important to whales and to all marine life. The site also features photos and videos taken from the boat, whale sounds, a virtual tour of the vessel, and many other aspects allowing children and adults to participate via the internet in all aspects of the voyage.
The Voyage of the Odyssey website is produced by the Ocean Alliance in the field onboard the Ocean Alliance whale research vessel Odyssey giving the general public a unique view of the wonders of whales and the marine enviroment.
In addition, educators we meet in each port of call receive a WHALE Education kit and other Ocean Alliance education materials like posters. Also, while visiting different countries around the world the crew of the Odyssey have visited classrooms, given tours of the boat to both students and officials, and given talks in many areas, to educate the general public about the mission of the Voyage of the Odyssey, and about the plight of whales on a global scale. They have stirred up much interest and enthusiasm in these countries, and have hopefully turned many young people into conservationists with their visits.
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