Web based technologies have evolved rapidly over the past several years, sufficient to usher in a new Internet era dubbed “web 2.0.” Websites have been used since the internet went public to support education and outreach. This presentation, however, discusses the rapid development, application, and adoption of several “web 2.0” technologies that have opened new doors for science outreach programs to interact with their stakeholders or customers. Using the ongoing development of a new website as a case-study, the presentation will inform other organizations as they consider updating their web-based outreach and education solutions. Specific emphasis is placed on identifying key technologies, their features, potential uses, and lessons-learned as they are evaluated and implemented.

The Southwest Climate Change Network is a new website developed by the Climate Assessment for the Southwest project (CLIMAS) at the University of Arizona. The website provides regionally-focused information on climate change science, impacts, and solutions, and in general builds on CLIMAS' 10-year history of stakeholder engagement in the Southwest. Using open-source content management framework software called Drupal, the website also supports a regional “knowledge network,” offers tailored news and announcements feeds sourced from a variety of organizations, provides a customizable “my page” for registered users, and acts as a platform for gathering intelligence from stakeholders and building applications based on the needs identified.