The Evolution of NOAA's Science On a Sphere

One of the more difficult issues in engaging broad audiences with scientific research is to present it in a way that is intuitive, captivating and up-to-date. Over the past ten years, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) has made significant progress in this area through Science On a Sphere(r) (SOS). SOS is a six foot animated globe that has been installed in over 125 museums and other facilities worldwide, bringing scientific visualizations to an estimated 33 million people every year. In order to build upon and broaden the reach and impact of SOS, many strategies are being deployed such as creating and distributing a growing data catalog that includes interactive programs, fostering a collaborative users network, and building a flat screen version for the classroom and home. This talk will focus on the lessons learned since the creation of SOS and new innovative ways NOAA is using SOS to positively impact people in a broad range of settings.