Conveying scientific information to citizens, especially non-scientists, has become an ever more pressing issue, especially in light of the recent political climate. Conveying the importance of our ecosystems becomes much easier when learning is interactive and visually stimulating. One potential method of making scientific information more accessible is through the use of story maps: a combination of geographic information with a narrative and multimedia content. Story maps combine maps, geography, pictures, text, and other multimedia flair to provide an interactive and visual experience for the viewer. These types of learning tools are essential to helping people recognize and understand the importance of our natural areas. The 3D Naturalist program created story maps to convey biological, historical, and cultural information from the 2016 National Park Service (NPS) Centennial BioBlitzes and Rocky Mountain Sustainability and Science Network (RMSSN).
Results/Conclusions
After participating in the 2016 National Park Service (NPS) Centennial BioBlitzes and Rocky Mountain Sustainability and Science Network (RMSSN), the 3D Naturalists created a story map documenting our observations. We have had 20 contributions and 150 views as of February 2017.