Ocean Planet
The Environmental Awareness Program (EAP), active at the Smithsonian Institution from April 1990 to September 1996, sought to address growing concern about the world's environment by gathering and disseminating information about a wide range of issues. EAP worked with Smithsonian bureaus and outside groups to reach the general public and professional audiences nationally, through exhibitions, publications, conferences, and workshops.
Ocean Planet
One of EAP's most ambitious and long-range undertakings, the Oceans Project explored a wide variety of marine-related environmental issues affecting coastal areas and open oceans. The project began with the National Forum on Ocean Conservation, a two-day public forum held in November 1991. A major traveling exhibition entitled Ocean Planet opened at the Smithsonian's National Museum of Natural History in April 1995 and ran until April 1996. The exhibition project included two books and a wide range of other supporting materials and educational programs, a national media campaign, and a live theater program. Ocean Planet will travel for five years to museums in cities across the United States and overseas. Ocean Planet Online, the Smithsonian's first exhibition on the World Wide Web, was launched in May 1995 in conjunction with the Smithsonian Web site. The success of the online exhibition led to the creation of a new program in October 1996, Smithsonian Without Walls, which seeks to examine the future of electronic communication by museums, explore the limits of World Wide Web technology, and develop content-driven and innovative electronic exhibitions.
EAP's colorful and informative poster offers tips for establishing a more environmentally responsible household, with ways to conserve energy and water, reduce the use of chemicals, and reuse and recycle products in the home. EAP has distributed more than 55,000 copies of the poster, free upon request, to individuals and groups throughout the United States.
Environment and Museums
EAP conducted a study of environmental exhibitions and programs at science museums and related institutions around the country. A report commissioned by the Rockefeller Foundation summarized the findings of the survey, identified trends, and offered suggestions for future directions in environmental programming at such institutions. The report was updated by EAP and published by the Association of Science and Technology Centers in summer 1993.
EAP received no federal funds and raised all program and operating expenses, beyond the director's salary, from outside sources. The office and its activities were supported by gifts to the program and grants from the Geraldine R. Dodge Foundation, the David and Lucile Packard Foundation, the National Science Foundation, the Pew Charitable Trusts, the Rockefeller Foundation, and Times Mirror Magazines, Inc.
Though the EAP is no longer operational, inquiries may be directed to sww@ic.si.edu.
Judith Gradwohl, Director
Kathleen Connolly, Program Coordinator
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