Grant: 16-008E
Project Title: Educational Exhibits for Sea Turtle Discovery Room at Whitney’s Sea Turtle Hospital
Project Manager: Catherine Eastman
Organization: University of Florida - Whitney Laboratory (Research and Educational Institute)
Grant Amount: $15,000.00
Completion Date: 2017-05-18

Summary: The Sea Turtle Hospital at Whitney Lab will design and build a modular, movable exhibit for the Sea Turtle Discovery Room. The exhibit will be displayed during public tours, open house and since it will be designed modular and movable, it will be transported to partnering outreach events and temporary exhibit displays. Consisting of three to four panels, the exhibit will outline work that is being done at the Sea Turtle Hospital at Whitney Lab in addition to threats sea turtles face and ways the community can be good stewards. The exhibit is one method to increase our reach into the community.

Results: The Sea Turtle Hospital at Whitney Lab just finished the installation of the mobile exhibit panels. The exhibit consists of three panels, two that are 3’x4’ and one that is 6’x4’. The large panel is a visually appealing “Cast of Characters” panel illustrating the size of the five species of sea turtles found in Florida. Additionally, the two smaller panels discuss “Be a good Steward” demonstrating ways the reader can make good choices and “Saving Sea Turtles” which a panel focused on the work being done at the Sea Turtle Hospital at Whitney Lab. The last panel features a smart TV and Raspberry Pi that shows on loop whatever video, presentation, or photo content we decide. Currently we have the Two Head Media License Plate videos looping.