From jokaydia: Exploring Virtual Worlds and Games in Education

Environmental Education Projects

Second Life provides a range of fantastic ways to explore environmental education, including immersive environments, simulations, information displays and sustainable communities.

Explore the projects below or Return to the Educational Uses of Second Life Homepage.

Centre for Water Studies @ Better World Island

The Centre for Water Studies (SLurl) at Better World Island was created in 2007 and is an educational and recreational build designed to increase the understanting and protection of water habitats. It was designed by Delia Lake aka and the All About Water Group.

The Centre for Waters Studies includes six distinct water areas that simulate real-life habitats. Each space includes information notecards and plants and objects to explore and investigate, and includes

• Mangrove Swamp
• Pacific Northwest Rainforest
• Pondlife
• Waterfall with pool and stream
• Coral Barrier Reef
• Ocean beach and Undersea Marine life.

The Centre for Water Studies also hosts regular events and meetings at their space, including regular presentations on water related issues, Earth Day 2008, the SL Human Rights Festival 08.

To find out more watch a video about the Centre for Water Studies on Blip.tv or watch a video about Earth Day at the Centre for Waters Studies on Youtube.

Etopia Eco-village

Etopia Eco-village on Etopia Island (SLurl) and Etopia Prime (SLurl) is a 'sustainable sim development concept created by WilliamThewise Goodman and Prim Chemistry in Second Life. The aim of the project is to create an educational environmental eco-village with real life examples of sustainable development, renewable energy, organic living & authentic community. It provides a showcase for individuals, organizations and businesses who want to offer goods and services which promote a socially and environmentally sustainable world.

Etopia includes a range of resources and activities which provide information about more ecological living, including:

• A bicycle tour around the islands many bike trails, a ride an aerial gondola, or a train ride on a monorail maglev system.
• Town plazas surrounded by a mixture of shops, offices and apartments - clustered to allow for a variety of natural areas, which are easily accessible within a short walk. This is a commitment to reducing the dependence on non-renewable sources of energy.
• Residential and commercial rentals or ownership for residents interested in sustainability and environmental education.
• Educational and recreational offerings and entertainment.
• Take a Sustainability Quiz and find out how much you really know about environmental living!
• Check out Wind and Aquaculture exhibits and the Sustainable Energy Science Lab.

For further information visit the Etopia Website or watch a vodcast about Etopia from Greener Business - Part 1 and Part 2.

OneClimate in Second Life

OneClimate is an initiative of OneWorld UK, a not-for-profit organisation who aim ‘to leverage media innovatively for a fair and sustainable world’. As part of their campaign, they have used a number of social networking tools to create a platform for education and discussion about climate change - including creating a presence in Second Life - OneClimate Island (SLurl).

OneClimate Island provides a space where visitors can meet others interested in climate change and environment issues from around the world, as well as engage in a number of educational tools and resources. The main parts of the island are:

• The Eco-Village, with exhibitions and simulations of low-carbon living
• The Transport Cafe - which provides information on lower carbon emissions
• Renewable Energy - the facts and the debate on alternatives to fossil-fuel power stations
• Climate Justice, an exhibition which details how climate chaos is already impacting the poorest communities
• OneStage, for concerts, meetings and movies
• Climate Science - a space where visitors can catch up with the latest facts and models.

In December 2007, OneClimate hosted the first ever address to the United Nations to be held virtually on Second Life with a presentation by US Congressman Edward Markey - Chairman, House Select Committee on Energy Independence and Global Warming. The OneClimate team created 'Virtual Bali' especially for the event, and invited participants from around the world to participate broadcasts of the UN Climate Change Conference 2007 via Second Life. You can watch a video of the event on Youtube. Following this they also hosted a number of other other events broadcast live to Second Life including the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change.

To find out more read the blog post 'OneClimate.net: Social networking site tackles climate change', or watch a video about OneClimate Island on Youtube.