Disaster Awareness - A Traveling Exhibition

Red Alert

 In fiscal year 2006/2007, NIHERST embarked on an initiative to promote and improve public understanding of disasters through a new travelling science exhibition on disaster awareness. Entitled Red Alert, this exhibition features thirty (30) hands-on exhibits and other educational resources on the phenomena of disasters, both natural and man-made. The exhibition is geared to a Caribbean audience and seeks to provide the public with a general knowledge of the scientific processes that create the disaster, key contributing factors or conditions, and measurement and monitoring techniques developed through science and technology. The exhibition also aims to promote public awareness of the devastating impacts of these disasters and the procedures and measures that can be implemented to minimize their effects. It is anticipated that the knowledge and awareness created by this exhibition would lead to behavioural change that safeguards lives, property and infrastructure, and the socio-economic gains made by countries of the Caribbean region. The topics of focus in the exhibition are as follows:

• Hurricanes

• Storms

• Floods

• Forest Fires

• Earthquakes

• Volcanoes

• Climate Change

• Environmental Disasters

• Industrial Disasters

• Road Safety

The travelling exhibition will consist of the following eight (8) components:

1. Exhibits

Completed components

A number of interactive exhibits were conceptualised by a committee of local experts on the topics listed above. These exhibits were then fabricated overseas and then shipped to the NIHERST/NGC Science Centre. Some exhibits from science centres abroad were also duplicated for NIHERST by their exhibit fabricators. These exhibits are listed as follows:

Hurricane:

• Hurricane immersion theatre

• Kiosk - True/False (one side) Fortification station (other side)

• Kiosk - Protect the envelop of your home

• 2 hurricane house models - ideal and non-ideal construction codes

Forest Fires:

• Kiosk - Fire triangle (one side) Fire proof house game (other side)

• Kiosk - True/False game (one side) Fortification station (other side)

Flood:

• Kiosk - True/False station (one side) Fortification station (other side)

• Model of ideal hydrological cycle and hydrological cycle with flooding

Volcano:

• Kiosk - Fortification station

• Augmented reality volcano

• Submarine volcano

Earthquake:

• Kiosk - Fortification station

• Continental drift model

Lightning:

• Touch lightning

• Kiosk - Jacob's ladder (one side) Fortification station (other side)

Coastal Erosion:

• Wave tank model showing coastal erosion

Environmental Disaster:

• Ground water contamination model

Ongoing components

Road Safety

• Tired or drunk eyes

• Risk spotter

• Stopping distance

• Distraction 26

• Drunk scooters

• Simple reaction timer droppers

Climate change

• Carbon Cycle

• Carbon Case

• Greenhouse Blanket

•  Alternative Energy

2. Video Documentaries

Four (10-15 minute) video documentaries were developed by both local and foreign contracted video producers. The topics of focus are floods, landslides, forest fires and climate change. The videos provide an explanation of these phenomena, their impacts and mitigation and adaptation measures .

3.  Video Animation

A video animation on volcanoes was developed by a small team of NIHERST staff. The animation is based on the story of some pirates who land on the island of Montserrat in search of a treasure, when they stumble across a geologist studying vulcanology on the island. He warns of an impending eruption and explains various details of a volcano.

4. CD-ROM

An interactive CD-ROM is currently being developed to educate on various aspects of climate change. Apart from the introduction on what is climate change, the CD-ROM will comprise three (3) main sections - the contributing factors, impacts and mitigation/adaptation measures. The content and ideas has been conceptualised by an internal team and verified by relevant external experts. The CD-ROM includes computer games and simulations that are currently being developed by contracted game developers, as well as literature and a list of do-it-yourself activities created in-house.

5. Computer Games

Contracted games software developers are currently developing three (3) games. The first is a text twist word game consisting of words associated with waste disposal, the second games deals with determining the best route during a flood evacuation scenario and the third game focuses on measures that are to be taken during an industrial fire simulation.

6. Geographic Information System (GIS) Simulations

Through a collaborative effort with The University of the West Indies, St. Augustine, NIHERST plans to develop two GIS simulations on a flood hazard and coastal erosion. The simulations will be based on real geographic locations within the Caribbean region.

7. Activities

Some simple activities on disaster awareness have been developed by the NIHERST/NGC National Science Centre workshop staff. These include a giant book with safety tips under a number of flaps, three (3) large puzzles on industrial disasters, and recycle waste bins for various recyclable materials.

8. Poster Display

Eighteen (18) large travelling posters were printed on hurricanes, storms, floods, forest fires, earthquakes and volcanoes. Each topic is treated in a three-panel poster containing the science, the impacts and the mitigation measures for the particular phenomena.

Updated: August 2010