A virtual scientific map is being created by Birmingham-based computer specialists Daden Limited, to enable the public to take a 3D journey into UK based science.
As part of this year's British Science Festival hosted at Aston University, virtual world specialists Daden are creating an interactive map, available both on the web and within Second Life, of virtual world based scientific research and educational activities at UK universities and research organisations.
Virtual Worlds such as Second Life, where users can socialise and connect on-line are already being extensively used by UK Universities and other educational and research organisations. This project will attempt to map this activity - rather than purely report on it and virtual world users are being asked to submit details for inclusion. The map is, appropriately, a virtual map inside of Second Life where visitors will be able to click on map markers to gain further information on each project, and to be directly transported to the science project location. The map is being hosted at B-scape on Birmingham's island in Second Life.
Daden Managing Director, David Burden, said; "We know that there is a lot of UK science and Higher Education activity within virtual worlds but is hard to visualise the scale and scope of activity without seeing it on a map. We hope that this map will inform people about projects they didn't know about - and encourage them to visit. We want it to become a lasting resource for UK Science which can live on beyond this year's British Science Festival."
Users without access to Second Life, or running projects in other virtual worlds, are not excluded from the project. All information will be available through the map's web page at www.daden.co.uk/bsf/, which will include a link to the browser based version of the Second Life map, and lists of projects in other worlds.
In order to take part and have their location listed UK science projects are invited to visit www.daden.co.uk/bsf/ and complete a short form (ideally by 10th September 2010) giving details about their project, and provide a web and virtual world link. Daden are interested in the use of virtual worlds for not only science research, but also for science outreach and higher education.
Daden hope to run a "fringe" event at the Festival to introduce the completed map, and to have a short "virtual safari" through some of the projects featured.
As well as the mapping project Daden are also bringing other British Science Festival information into the virtual world - including a "twitter" lab displaying relevant twitter feeds from across the conference.
The British Science Festival, hosted by Aston University in Birmingham, runs from Tuesday, September 14th to Sunday, September 19th. For further information visit www.britishsciencefestival.org
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NOTES FOR EDITORS
About Daden
Daden Limited is a virtual worlds solutions provider working in Second Life® and other virtual worlds. Our aim is to help you engage with your audience using some of the most interesting technologies around today. We help organisations understand and use virtual world technologies for serious business, collaboration, education and building. Clients range from SMEs to global brands including central and local government, universities/colleges and healthcare organisations. Daden are working with almost a dozen education and training organisations from the public (HE, FE, Secondary) and private sector (in-house and external) to help them use virtual worlds and characters to deliver a better education and training experience to their students and staff. Founded in 2004 by David Burden, Daden are based at Birmingham Science Park Aston in Birmingham UK. They are members of the Serious Games Institute in Coventry and Intellect in London. Daden are a Linden Lab Gold Solution Provider for Second Life.
About the British Science Festival
The British Science Festival is one of Europe's largest science festivals and regularly attracts over 350 of the UK's top scientists and speakers to discuss the latest developments in science with the public. Over 50,000 visitors regularly attend the talks, discussions and workshops. The Festival takes place at a different location each year and was last held in Birmingham in 1996. The 2010 festival will take place from 14-19 September hosted by Aston University. For further information, visit www.britishscienceassociation.org/festival
About Aston University
Founded in 1895 and a University since 1966, Aston is a long established research-led University known for its world-class teaching quality and strong links to industry, government and commerce. The University is committed to leading and enabling transformation through teaching, research and support, contributing positively and substantially to society - regionally, nationally and internationally. Aston are ranked 13th out of 113 UK Universities by the 2010 Complete University Guide, and 19th in the Guardian rankings 2010.
Aston University is based in the centre of Birmingham, home to over 65,000 students and one of Europe's liveliest and most welcoming cities. Our 40 acre campus houses all the University's academic, social and accommodation facilities for our 9,500 students.
About Digital Birmingham
Digital Birmingham developed B-scape to highlight the vast possibilities for Birmingham organisations within virtual worlds. B-scape exploits state-of-the-art mash-ups to pull layers of different information from elsewhere on the net through into Second Life. B-scape was developed in order to investigate how virtual worlds can be used to support City activities, particularly in conjunction with Digital Birmingham and its aim to establish Birmingham as a leading European digital city. B-scape integrates a range of different innovative uses of virtual world technologies to illustrate how collaborative virtual worlds can be used for local organisations to interact with the public. All activities being explored aim to add value to existing online content and do not aim to merely display the same information in a different environment. Digital Birmingham is the city's strategic partnership helping to ensure that the benefits of digital technologies are available to all in the city. For more information visit: www.digitalbirmingham.co.uk

