Web Conferencing Classrooms
PBI's video conferences and webcasts are shot live from Tundra Buggy One on the shores of Hudson Bay. From left to right, scientists Don Moore, Andrew Derocher, Tom Smith, and Geoff York. Photo © Daniel J. Cox/NaturalExposures.com. Click image to enlarge.
Every fall, Polar Bears International (PBI) assembles a team of leading scientists and educators to teach live classes from the tundra during the famous fall polar bear migration near Churchill, Manitoba, Canada. These video conferences allow students to have one-on-one conversations with polar bear experts who report on the current sea-ice conditions on Hudson Bay and how they affect the bears. The classes help students understand the problems that polar bears face in a rapidly warming Arctic and raise awareness of how each of us can help.
PBI also conducts educational webcasts during the polar bear season, working with a coalition of other conservation groups to reach an even wider audience. During the webcasts, viewers can e-mail questions to polar bear scientists.
The fall 2008 schedule featured the following experts, all of whom serve on PBI's Advisory Council:
Dr. Steven C. Amstrup of the U.S. Geological Survey's Polar Bear Project
Dr. Andrew Derocher, chair of the IUCN Polar Bear Specialist Group and professor of biological sciences at the University of Alberta
Dr. Don Moore of the Smithsonian's National Zoo
JoAnne Simerson of the San Diego Zoo
Dr. Tom Smith, professor of biological sciences at Brigham Young University and a polar bear denning expert
Dr. Ian Stirling, professor emeritus at the University of Alberta and a biologist with the Canadian Wildlife Service
Geoff York, formerly a biologist with the U.S. Geological Survey's Polar Bear Project and currently the leading expert on polar bears with WWF's Arctic Program
The fall 2008 schedule featured the following video conferences and webcasts:
October 28, 2008 from 12:30 PM to 1:30 PM
Missouri School System-VC
Organization: Greenwood Laboratory (2nd grade)
Scientists: Dr. Don Moore, Geoff York
October 31, 2008 from 8:30 AM to 9:30 AM
Louisville Zoo-VC
Organization: Newburg Middle School & Fairdale High School
Scientists: Dr. Don Moore, JoAnne Simerson, Geoff York
October 31, 2008 from 9:30 AM to 10:30 AM
Louisville Zoo- VC
Organization: Cane Run & Portland Elementary School
Scientists: Dr. Don Moore, JoAnne Simerson, Geoff York
October 31, 2008 from 11:00 AM to 12:00 PM
Oregon Zoo-VC
Organization: Aloha High School
Scientists: Dr. Don Moore, Dr. Tom Smith, Geoff York
October 31, 2008 from 1:00 PM to 2:00 PM
Oregon Zoo- VC
Organization: Roosevelt High School
Scientists: Dr. Don Moore, Dr. Tom Smith, Geoff York
October 31, 2008 from 2:00 PM to 3:00 PM
Oregon Zoo- VC
Organization: Wilsonville High School
Scientists: Dr. Don Moore, Dr. Tom Smith, Geoff York
November 1, 2008 from 8:00 AM to 9:00 AM
R.W. Park Zoo- VC
Roger Williams Park Zoo
Scientists: Dr. Tom Smith, Dr. Don Moore, Geoff York
Will call at 8:00 to verify connection, conference begins @ 8:30
November 4, 2008 from 10:00 AM to 11:00 AM
Jane Goodall's “Roots & Shoots”-Vanderbilt Virtual Schooll-VC
Organization: Vanderbilt Virtual School
Scientists: Dr. Don Moore, Dr. Tom Smith, Geoff York
November 4, 2008 from 11:00 AM to 12:00 PM
Roots & Shoots- Apple Webcast #1
Scientists: Dr. Don Moore, Dr. Tom Smith, Geoff York
Topic: Polar Bear Facts
November 4, 2008 from 12:00 PM to 1:00 PM
Roots & Shoots-VC
Organization: St George's (6th grade math and AP Environmental Science)
Scientists: Dr. Don Moore, Dr. Tom Smith, Geoff York
November 4, 2008 from 8:00 PM to 9:00 PM
PBI Australia-VC
Organization:
Scientists: Dr. Don Moore, Dr. Tom Smith
12:00pm on November 5 in Australia
November 5, 2008 from 9:00 AM to 10:00 AM
Roots & Shoots-VC
Organization: Vanderbilt Virtual School
Scientists: Dr. Don Moore, Dr. Tom Smith, Geoff York
November 5, 2008 from 11:00 AM to 12:00 PM
Roots & Shoots-Apple Webcast #2
Scientists: Dr. Don Moore, Dr. Tom Smith, Geoff York
Topic: Issues Affecting Polar Bears
November 5, 2008 from 2:00 PM to 3:00 PM
Roots & Shoots-VC
Organization: St George's (6th grade math and AP Stats)
Scientists: Dr. Don Moore, Geoff York
November 6, 2008 from 11:00 AM to 12:00 PM
Roots & Shoots-Apple Webcast #3
Scientists: Dr. Don Moore, Geoff York
Topic: Taking Action to Help the Bears
November 6, 2008 from 12:00 PM to 1:00 PM
Roots & Shoots-VC
Organization: St George's (6th grade math and AP Environmental Science)
Scientists: Dr. Don Moore, Dr. Tom Smith, Geoff York
November 7, 2008 from 11:00 AM to 12:00 PM
National Geographic-Webcast #1
Scientists: Dr. Andrew Derocher, Dr. Don Moore, Dr. Tom Smith, Geoff York
November 7, 2008 from 2:00 PM to 3:00 PM
Smithsonian's National Zoo-VC
Scientists: Dr. Andrew Derocher, Dr. Don Moore
November 10, 2008 from 11:00 AM to 12:00 PM
National Geographic- Webcast #2
Scientists: Dr. Andrew Derocher, Dr. Peter Ewins
November 11, 2008 from 9:00 AM to 10:00 AM
Henry Villas Zoo-VC
Scientists: Dr. Andrew Derocher, Dr. Peter Ewins
Others: Robert Buchanan (PBI president), Jim Hubings (director, Henry Villas Zoo)
November 16, 2008 from 1:10 PM to 1:40 PM
Marine Mammal Conference-VC
Polar Bears and Climate Change- Bob Wilson (PBI) Dr. Ian Stirling, Dr. Steven C. Amstrup
PBI also conducts educational webcasts during the polar bear season, working with a coalition of other conservation groups to reach an even wider audience. During the webcasts, viewers can e-mail questions to polar bear scientists.
The fall 2008 schedule featured the following experts, all of whom serve on PBI's Advisory Council:
Dr. Steven C. Amstrup of the U.S. Geological Survey's Polar Bear Project
Dr. Andrew Derocher, chair of the IUCN Polar Bear Specialist Group and professor of biological sciences at the University of Alberta
Dr. Don Moore of the Smithsonian's National Zoo
JoAnne Simerson of the San Diego Zoo
Dr. Tom Smith, professor of biological sciences at Brigham Young University and a polar bear denning expert
Dr. Ian Stirling, professor emeritus at the University of Alberta and a biologist with the Canadian Wildlife Service
Geoff York, formerly a biologist with the U.S. Geological Survey's Polar Bear Project and currently the leading expert on polar bears with WWF's Arctic Program
The fall 2008 schedule featured the following video conferences and webcasts:
October 28, 2008 from 12:30 PM to 1:30 PM
Missouri School System-VC
Organization: Greenwood Laboratory (2nd grade)
Scientists: Dr. Don Moore, Geoff York
October 31, 2008 from 8:30 AM to 9:30 AM
Louisville Zoo-VC
Organization: Newburg Middle School & Fairdale High School
Scientists: Dr. Don Moore, JoAnne Simerson, Geoff York
October 31, 2008 from 9:30 AM to 10:30 AM
Louisville Zoo- VC
Organization: Cane Run & Portland Elementary School
Scientists: Dr. Don Moore, JoAnne Simerson, Geoff York
October 31, 2008 from 11:00 AM to 12:00 PM
Oregon Zoo-VC
Organization: Aloha High School
Scientists: Dr. Don Moore, Dr. Tom Smith, Geoff York
October 31, 2008 from 1:00 PM to 2:00 PM
Oregon Zoo- VC
Organization: Roosevelt High School
Scientists: Dr. Don Moore, Dr. Tom Smith, Geoff York
October 31, 2008 from 2:00 PM to 3:00 PM
Oregon Zoo- VC
Organization: Wilsonville High School
Scientists: Dr. Don Moore, Dr. Tom Smith, Geoff York
November 1, 2008 from 8:00 AM to 9:00 AM
R.W. Park Zoo- VC
Roger Williams Park Zoo
Scientists: Dr. Tom Smith, Dr. Don Moore, Geoff York
Will call at 8:00 to verify connection, conference begins @ 8:30
November 4, 2008 from 10:00 AM to 11:00 AM
Jane Goodall's “Roots & Shoots”-Vanderbilt Virtual Schooll-VC
Organization: Vanderbilt Virtual School
Scientists: Dr. Don Moore, Dr. Tom Smith, Geoff York
November 4, 2008 from 11:00 AM to 12:00 PM
Roots & Shoots- Apple Webcast #1
Scientists: Dr. Don Moore, Dr. Tom Smith, Geoff York
Topic: Polar Bear Facts
November 4, 2008 from 12:00 PM to 1:00 PM
Roots & Shoots-VC
Organization: St George's (6th grade math and AP Environmental Science)
Scientists: Dr. Don Moore, Dr. Tom Smith, Geoff York
November 4, 2008 from 8:00 PM to 9:00 PM
PBI Australia-VC
Organization:
Scientists: Dr. Don Moore, Dr. Tom Smith
12:00pm on November 5 in Australia
November 5, 2008 from 9:00 AM to 10:00 AM
Roots & Shoots-VC
Organization: Vanderbilt Virtual School
Scientists: Dr. Don Moore, Dr. Tom Smith, Geoff York
November 5, 2008 from 11:00 AM to 12:00 PM
Roots & Shoots-Apple Webcast #2
Scientists: Dr. Don Moore, Dr. Tom Smith, Geoff York
Topic: Issues Affecting Polar Bears
November 5, 2008 from 2:00 PM to 3:00 PM
Roots & Shoots-VC
Organization: St George's (6th grade math and AP Stats)
Scientists: Dr. Don Moore, Geoff York
November 6, 2008 from 11:00 AM to 12:00 PM
Roots & Shoots-Apple Webcast #3
Scientists: Dr. Don Moore, Geoff York
Topic: Taking Action to Help the Bears
November 6, 2008 from 12:00 PM to 1:00 PM
Roots & Shoots-VC
Organization: St George's (6th grade math and AP Environmental Science)
Scientists: Dr. Don Moore, Dr. Tom Smith, Geoff York
November 7, 2008 from 11:00 AM to 12:00 PM
National Geographic-Webcast #1
Scientists: Dr. Andrew Derocher, Dr. Don Moore, Dr. Tom Smith, Geoff York
November 7, 2008 from 2:00 PM to 3:00 PM
Smithsonian's National Zoo-VC
Scientists: Dr. Andrew Derocher, Dr. Don Moore
November 10, 2008 from 11:00 AM to 12:00 PM
National Geographic- Webcast #2
Scientists: Dr. Andrew Derocher, Dr. Peter Ewins
November 11, 2008 from 9:00 AM to 10:00 AM
Henry Villas Zoo-VC
Scientists: Dr. Andrew Derocher, Dr. Peter Ewins
Others: Robert Buchanan (PBI president), Jim Hubings (director, Henry Villas Zoo)
November 16, 2008 from 1:10 PM to 1:40 PM
Marine Mammal Conference-VC
Polar Bears and Climate Change- Bob Wilson (PBI) Dr. Ian Stirling, Dr. Steven C. Amstrup