We have been successful in having field scientists teach live classes from the tundra via Web casts. The classes allow students to have one-onone conversations with scientists. The Web casts help students understand the problems facing polar bears; they also raise student awareness of the importance of the Arctic and the Subarctic and the role these regions play in the health of our planet. In addition, they provide students with a window into the world of a research scientist. We are now in the third year of this innovative program.

Last year almost 1,000 students participated via live Web casts. This year we will have participants from the Orlando Science Center, Roger Williams Park Zoo, The Maryland Zoo, Oregon Zoo, Alaska Zoo, Toledo Zoo, the Winnipeg School District, and Sea World Australia. The sessions will be available on our Web site via archived video tapes, thus reaching an even wider audience. Our teaching scientists this year will include Dr. Jane Waterman, Dr. Jim Roth, Dr. Steve Amstrup, and Dr. Don Moore. Our target is to have 1,600 direct participants and over 30,000 viewers via our Web site.