6 Building Bridges to Science: Making Coastal Science Better Understood
63
Research and interpretation projects using the sounds being recorded continue to
be developed; SEAHEAR is one special project developed by the School of Conservation Sciences at Bournemouth University. A multimedia, computer-based system introduces visitors to the complex science of acoustics, with particular emphasis on underwater acoustics. The project uses a wide variety of information and images related
to the use of acoustics and is also addressing the provision of interpretation for the
blind and visually impaired - just as dolphins use sound to communicate and "see"
underwater, sound can also be used to explain the marine environment to those with
sight difficulties.
The scientific projects that make up the Coastwatch project rely heavily on the input
of volunteers - the "Friends of Durlston" group. These Friends get involved in a wide
variety of tasks including the dolphin sightings scheme, manning the interpretation
centre, and most recently, carrying out underwater biological surveys in the Bay. The
community partnership approach has developed beyond the centre; local commercial
boat operators are being encouraged to incorporate more interpretation into their short
cruises along the coast and the statutory Environment Agency has helped to map the
Marine Research Area using side scan sonar.
Established in 1978, the Purbeck Marine Wildlife Reserve in Kimmeridge Bay has no
legal status but is one of the increasing number of Voluntary Marine Nature Reserves
(or Conservation Areas) along the coast. It is a prime example of a successful site-based
conservation initiative which depends on the voluntary co-operation of locallandowners, conservation, recreation and interest groups and regular users. The site receives
thousands of visitors; school parties, divers, anglers, windsurfers, surfers, geologists
and family groups all enjoy what the bay has to offer. A small interpretation centre,
open during the summer season, houses aquarium tanks representing the different
habitats found in the bay and the full-time warden also leads school visits, guided walks,
rock pool rambles and organises special events such as underwater photography competitions. The most recent additions to the interpretation provision include instrumentation to monitor environmental conditions in rock pools and a remote underwater
video camera which is used to bring pictures "live from Kimmeridge Bay" to shore
visitors.
Innovative approaches to education do not have to rely on multimedia advances and
computers: at Kimmeridge the establishment of a "Limpet Protection Zone" (LPZ) has
been very successful, and amusing! Increasing numbers of visitors to the shore over the
years has resulted in unnecessary removal of limpets (e.g. Patella spp.) so volunteers
patrol the beach informing visitors about the significance of the limpet to rocky shore
ecology. The initiative has received much media attention during the summer holiday
season at both a local and national level.
World renowned for its fossils, Charmouth Heritage Centre has naturally focused
on the geology of Dorset's internationally famous Jurassic coast. However, the coastal
and marine component of interpretation is not being overlooked; a Marine Awareness
Project has been initiated in conjunction with the establishment of a voluntary marine
conservation area. Here, visitors have access to an increasing range of multimedia techniques in addition to the traditional fossil hunts with the warden. Fossils such as ammonites are being used to explain to visitors what the seas were like during the Jurassic
period, so that visitors can begin to compare it with life in the sea today. A computerbased fossil identifier has been developed to encourage visitors to identify the fossils
63
Research and interpretation projects using the sounds being recorded continue to
be developed; SEAHEAR is one special project developed by the School of Conservation Sciences at Bournemouth University. A multimedia, computer-based system introduces visitors to the complex science of acoustics, with particular emphasis on underwater acoustics. The project uses a wide variety of information and images related
to the use of acoustics and is also addressing the provision of interpretation for the
blind and visually impaired - just as dolphins use sound to communicate and "see"
underwater, sound can also be used to explain the marine environment to those with
sight difficulties.
The scientific projects that make up the Coastwatch project rely heavily on the input
of volunteers - the "Friends of Durlston" group. These Friends get involved in a wide
variety of tasks including the dolphin sightings scheme, manning the interpretation
centre, and most recently, carrying out underwater biological surveys in the Bay. The
community partnership approach has developed beyond the centre; local commercial
boat operators are being encouraged to incorporate more interpretation into their short
cruises along the coast and the statutory Environment Agency has helped to map the
Marine Research Area using side scan sonar.
Established in 1978, the Purbeck Marine Wildlife Reserve in Kimmeridge Bay has no
legal status but is one of the increasing number of Voluntary Marine Nature Reserves
(or Conservation Areas) along the coast. It is a prime example of a successful site-based
conservation initiative which depends on the voluntary co-operation of locallandowners, conservation, recreation and interest groups and regular users. The site receives
thousands of visitors; school parties, divers, anglers, windsurfers, surfers, geologists
and family groups all enjoy what the bay has to offer. A small interpretation centre,
open during the summer season, houses aquarium tanks representing the different
habitats found in the bay and the full-time warden also leads school visits, guided walks,
rock pool rambles and organises special events such as underwater photography competitions. The most recent additions to the interpretation provision include instrumentation to monitor environmental conditions in rock pools and a remote underwater
video camera which is used to bring pictures "live from Kimmeridge Bay" to shore
visitors.
Innovative approaches to education do not have to rely on multimedia advances and
computers: at Kimmeridge the establishment of a "Limpet Protection Zone" (LPZ) has
been very successful, and amusing! Increasing numbers of visitors to the shore over the
years has resulted in unnecessary removal of limpets (e.g. Patella spp.) so volunteers
patrol the beach informing visitors about the significance of the limpet to rocky shore
ecology. The initiative has received much media attention during the summer holiday
season at both a local and national level.
World renowned for its fossils, Charmouth Heritage Centre has naturally focused
on the geology of Dorset's internationally famous Jurassic coast. However, the coastal
and marine component of interpretation is not being overlooked; a Marine Awareness
Project has been initiated in conjunction with the establishment of a voluntary marine
conservation area. Here, visitors have access to an increasing range of multimedia techniques in addition to the traditional fossil hunts with the warden. Fossils such as ammonites are being used to explain to visitors what the seas were like during the Jurassic
period, so that visitors can begin to compare it with life in the sea today. A computerbased fossil identifier has been developed to encourage visitors to identify the fossils