Increasing public understanding of the effects of climate change on ecosystems is often limited by our ability to convey the complex interactions between organisms and the dynamic environments in which they live. This project will translate data from electronically tagged marine animals, such as a lingcod or jellyfish, in the kelp forests of Monterey Bay into virtual reality where humans can “enter” the underwater realm to observe or “become” a fish in order to better understand how their movement and behavior is driven by the changing environmental conditions.

The EVP team's approach will provide an unparalleled tool that will allow a broad audience the personal, virtual, experience needed to become environmentally educated on marine, and other, climate change issues.