New Educational Exhibits Preserve Maine’s “Lobstahs” and More

by | Sep 25, 2018

Art Guild’s latest project includes a variety of educational exhibits for LabVenture, a new educational learning facility in Portland, Maine and part of the Gulf of Maine Research Institute (GMRI), a marine nonprofit dedicated to the preservation of the Gulf of Maine ecosystem.

Funded in part by NASA, the new LabVenture is the result of 3 years of work dedicated to creating a state-of-the art, hands-on learning environment for Maine’s middle school students. LabVenture exposes these young Mainers to authentic science tools and methods of inquiry that are far beyond the reach of most Maine classrooms. As described by Leigh Peake, Chief Education Officer of the GMRI, “Our goal is to give the next generation the science and data skills they will need to manage the challenges and opportunities that come with a changing climate,”

Some of LabVenture’s new features include:

  • A number of “multi-touch” tables that allow students to interact with a variety of content – including NASA satellite data
  • A giant wall projection screen that features 4k videos of scientists and lobstermen, NASA satellite data and other content
  • A biodiversity tank that showcases live species being studied by students, and common to the Gulf of Maine
  • A bathymetric map of the Gulf – basically a water version of a topographic map – that is reflected in both a big, dimensional wall map as well as the multi-level floor

Art Guild’s contributions include fabrication and installation of the 3D contour wall map, LabVenture’s ten interactive multi-touch tables, and three additional digital stations surrounding the biodiversity tank. Learn more about LabVenture.

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