Immersive Learning ‘Climate Classroom’

HSBC, Bermuda Institute of Ocean Sciences [BIOS] and Overview Collective are launching an immersive learning experience: “The Climate Classroom” for young Bermudians.

A spokesperson said, “Through the generosity of HSBC, the Bermuda Institute of Ocean Sciences [BIOS] and Overview Collective have partnered to co-launch “The Climate Classroom,” a gamified immersive learning experience for M2 students across Bermuda.

“With additional support from Planet Math, the program will empower young people with the knowledge and skills to take action against climate change in Bermuda at a critical juncture when they are deciding their future educational and career paths.

““The Climate Classroom” invites students to explore the BIOS campus, learning about the impacts of climate change on marine ecosystems and the economy in Bermuda. Students will also be exposed to future green careers in marine biology, environmental engineering and emerging media such as extended reality [XR] and the metaverse.

“Through the escape room-style quest, students will apply middle school math and science skills to solve puzzles and clues related to ocean temperature, hurricane intensity, and coastal vulnerability.

“They will also use virtual reality [VR] to train like marine biologists by tagging manta rays, monitor ocean health and measure changes in coral reef biodiversity in The Hydrous’ “Explore VR”. Students will also have an opportunity to learn about photogrammetry by scanning coral specimens and converting them into augmented reality [AR] 3D objects to import into Roblox Studio to create their own metaverse worlds.

“The program was developed through the combined technical expertise of BIOS’s ocean scientists and education department, with Overview Collective’s expertise in immersive media, experiential design and sustainability campaigning. Both joined forces with a shared belief that although young people have inherited the problem of climate change, they are critical to addressing its impacts.

“By the end of the program, students will be equipped with tangible ways to stay involved with BIOS, while also generating ideas about how they can take action in their community.”

“We are excited to welcome young Bermudians to the BIOS campus, putting our technical research into practice through this exciting and unique program. We hope it will inspire students to care more about the island they call home and explore new career tracks. We are grateful to the generous support of HSBC for making this possible”, said Kaitlin Noyes, Director of Education and Community Engagement at BIOS.

“AR, VR and escape rooms are amazing tools to immerse and inspire people to learn more about the world around them,” said Tarik Mohamed, Co-Founder and Chief Creative Officer of Overview Collective.

“We founded Overview Collective because we believe it is vital to educate young people about climate change and introduce them to green careers and communities who are already working on the solutions.”

The spokesperson said, “The Climate Classroom will run at BIOS from 18 April – 2 May 2023 and over 150 M2 students from across Bermuda have been selected to participate.”

#BermudaMarine #ClimateChange #Education #GoodNews

Category: All, Environment, News