Terri Hudkins

Headquarters, Washington, DC March 1, 1995

(Phone: 202/358-1977)

RELEASE: 95-21

NEW VIDEODISC WILL HELP STUDENTS LEARN EARTH SCIENCES

NASA, WGBH-TV, Boston, and Scholastic, Inc., New York,

have released an interactive videodisc that gives students and
teachers a new perspective on planet Earth. Interactive NOVA:
Earth, the fourth videodisc from a series based on WGBH's
award-winning television program, shows the Earth's system in
action using the power of videodiscs and computers.

Interactive NOVA: Earth addresses "What makes the Earth a

good home?" To explore the question, students and teachers
take electronic field trips to the upper reaches of the Arctic
Circle, the heights of Mt. Kilimanjaro, and the depths of a
volcano to find clues of how life began on Earth.

The concept of examining the Earth as a single, complex

environmental system -- called Earth system science -- involves
studying the relationships and sciences involved in water
cycles, oxygen, food, photosynthesis, soil conservation, ozone
and temperature variances, and global climate patterns. NASA's
Mission to Planet Earth is a long-term program to use
spacecraft, aircraft and ground teams to study Earth system
science.

Former NASA Astronaut Dr. Kathryn Sullivan, Chief

Scientist of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration, introduces the program and hosts the video
field trips to some of the most remote locations on Earth
allowing teachers and students to explore Earth system science
using dozens of innovative lesson plans, experiments and hands-
on activities.

"Interactive NOVA: Earth will provide teachers with an

exciting tool for use in their efforts to prepare students for
the 21st Century," said Frank Owens, Director of NASA's
Education Division. "Technology provides a powerful medium to
translate NASA's research results from programs such as Mission
to Planet Earth to formats useful to the education community."

The collaborative effort began in March 1992 and has

included the contributions of a diverse team of teachers,
curriculum specialists, scientists, and other educators.

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NASA, through the Offices of Mission to Planet Earth and

Human Resources and Education, contributed to this effort by
providing data, visualizations, and other video resources as
well as by actively participating in the content development
through the involvement of key Agency researchers.

Interactive NOVA: Earth reflects NASA's commitment to

supporting education reform and the achievement of the emerging
National Science Education Standards by creating high-quality,
affordable interactive learning tools and environments.

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