SciLands


SciLands is an area within the virtual world Second Life dedicated to science and technology. The member organizations share the borders of their regions to create a larger virtual continent. Their goal is to foster conversations and ideas that might not have occurred if each region were separate. Other goals of the SciLands include increasing visitor traffic and making it easier to find useful educational content within Second Life.
SciLands members have regular meetings in Second Life where they share ideas, try to help each other, vote on new memberships, and plan future projects. Members also share resources such as meeting spaces and developers.
SciLands was initially formed around the International Spaceflight Museum and NASA CoLab. Since its establishment, it grew to host a variety of other organizations including government agencies, universities, and museums, but many of these organisations have since left Second Life, so the area has become increasingly fragmented.

Highlighted content

NameCategorySponsoring OrganizationDescriptionPhoto
NPR's Science FridayGeneralNPR's Science FridayA weekly talk show on NPR covering a variety of science-related topics.thumb
Victoria craterSpaceNASAA one-third scale model of Victoria crater found on the surface of Mars.thumb
Real-time US weather mapEarth ScienceNOAAObserve the current weather above the continental U.S.thumb
Hurricane RideEarth ScienceNOAAFly through a virtual hurricane aboard a P-3 Orion Hurricane Hunter.thumb
Tsunami DemonstrationEarth ScienceNOAASee the deadly effects of a tsunami wave and learn how they are formed.thumb
Weather Balloon RideEarth ScienceNOAAHold on to a balloon and learn about the instrumentation that NOAA uses to collect atmospheric data.thumb
Submarine RideEarth ScienceNOAAVisit a variety of coral sanctuaries worldwide on board a virtual submersible.thumb
Oil Spill Cleanup DemonstrationEarth ScienceNOAAAssist in the cleanup of an oil spill.thumb
Red Tide DemonstrationEarth ScienceNOAAUnderstand the effects of harmful algae bloom commonly known as red tide.thumb
Sea Charting DemonstrationEarth ScienceNOAAMap the sea floor aboard an NOAA ship.thumb
Science On A SphereEarth ScienceNOAAVisualize Earth data sets on a spherical projection screen.thumb

General

Space

  • Rocket Ride to Space
  • Virtual Planetarium
  • Solar System Tour
  • Apollo 11 Landing Site on the Moon
  • Real-time Satellite Positions
  • Martian Dust Storms

Health science

  • Visualizing Future Healthcare Options for London

Member organizations

NameDescription/FocusLogo
NOAAThe National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration is a scientific agency within the United States Department of Commerce focused on the conditions of the oceans and the atmosphere.100px
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NASAThe National Aeronautics and Space Administration is an agency of the United States government responsible for the nation's public space program.100px
ExploratoriumThe Exploratorium: a hands-on museum of science, art, and human perception in San Francisco.
Elon UniversityA private institution in North Carolina.
University of DenverA private university in the Rocky Mountain region, DU has undergraduate, graduate, and professional programs.
The Tech InteractiveThe Tech Interactive is a hands-on technology and science museum located in San Jose, CA.
Imperial College LondonImperial provides scholarship, education, and research in science, engineering, management, and medicine.
US National Library of Medicine The National Library of Medicine, on the campus of NIH in Bethesda, Maryland, is the world's largest medical library. It collects materials in all major areas of the health sciences and to a lesser degree in chemistry, physics, botany, and zoology.100px
National Space SocietyThe National Space Society is an independent, educational, grassroots, non-profit organization dedicated to creating a space-faring civilization.
Space Studies InstituteSpace Studies Institute is a nonprofit educational and research organization. Founded in 1977 by Dr. Gerard K. O'Neill, Gerard O'Neill, Princeton University professor and author of The High Frontier, SSI sponsored and conducted research into areas such as solar power satellites, lunar bases, space colonies, asteroid mining, and mass drivers.
NPR Science FridayWeekly two-hour radio program about science, technology, and environmental issues in the news.
Loughborough University
Space Frontier FoundationThe Space Frontier Foundation is an organization of people dedicated to opening the Space Frontier to human settlement as rapidly as possible.
Future Focus - BERR Futurefocus is a purpose-built resource in London, open to everyone in the Department for Business, Enterprise & Regulatory Reform, the Department for Universities, Innovation & Skills, the Department for Children, Schools & Families, and across government and business.
Texas Wesleyan UniversityTexas Wesleyan University, founded in 1890 in Fort Worth, is a United Methodist institution with a tradition in the liberal arts and sciences with professional and career preparation.
Northern Michigan UniversityNorthern Michigan University, located in Michigan's Upper Peninsula, is a four-year, public university that offers 180-degree programs to nearly 9,400 undergraduate and graduate students.
International Spaceflight MuseumThe International Spaceflight Museum is a museum in the virtual world of Second Life. It hosts exhibits and events about real-world spacecraft, rockets, astronomy and exploration.