The 3D Polar Museum
Abstract
The role of Antarctica and the Southern Ocean in regulating the global climate and sustaining life on Earth is still poorly understood by non-specialist audiences, often being addressed in a limited or conceptually inaccurate manner. The Polar 3D Virtual Museum seeks to expand this understanding by offering 17 three-dimensional Learning Objects (LOs) representing animals from the Antarctic fauna. These objects can be explored virtually through the online platform or printed using 3D printers, enabling their use in face-to-face classroom activities. The models were developed using techniques such as sculpt modeling, photogrammetry, tomography, and the Blender software. In addition to the models, the museum provides pedagogical suggestions for classroom use, such as building food webs. The initiative involves Antarctic researchers and is already being implemented in public schools, promoting scientific literacy, ocean literacy, and encouraging the engagement of diverse audiences with Antarctic science.
