University of Delaware
Office of Public Relations
UpDate - Vol. 16, No. 31, May 15


          UD marine studies coordinator shares experiences in
                               classroom
     
     During a recent slide presentation, Tracey Bryant,
marine studies, gave an overview of the college, from
satellite oceanographers working at their computers to
coastal engineers conducting experiments in the wave tank.
     Bryant explained how her office worked with members of
the college faculty and staff, helping to prepare technical
reports, posters for conferences, press releases and web
pages.
     "We also work closely with the Sea Grant Advisory
Service, the outreach effort of the college, and publish The
Sea Grant Reporter. We use different approaches and media
for different audiences, which range from other scientists
in the field to the general public," she pointed out.
     As an example of a single project, Bryant spoke about
the award-winning Porthole to Discovery mobile for children,
created by her office. For the mobile, the art director used
concentric circles, that were like portholes, hence the
name.
     Special software, which could adjust camera angles, was
used for the illustrations of sea creatures, from whales to
turtles, and can be used for other projects. Each sea
creature was identified on the mobile and described in the
text of a separate small poster.
     Equipment for exploration of the seas, such as a
diver's suit, is also part of the mobile, and Bryant
described getting permission and working with the
manufacturer on the illustration.
     Manufacturing the mobile brought its own challenges-
dealing with vendors, selecting the proper paper stock,
suspension devices for the mobile and the outside wrapper.
     The office is now marketing the mobile through its
office and in educational gift stores and is looking for a
corporate sponsor to place the mobiles in Delaware
classrooms.