Deep Sea Vents
This site was created as part of the Hall of Planet Earth in the American Museum of Natural History. I was contracted to do the illustration of the thermal vent, interface design, photo-retouching and preparation of the art for Shockwave programming.

Alive or Not?
I worked with museum geologists and biologists to create this illustration based on videos and photos from a recent expedition to the deep. The challenge was to fit all of the elements onto one illustration, without overlapping, and keep it legible at 72 dpi.

Life around a "Black Smoker"
The illustration contains hot spots and rollover highlights of items that can be collected. Thermal vents are composed of minerals, lava, crystals and living bacteria and provide heat and energy to support some very unusual life forms.

"Bio Box and "Geo Box"
Bio Box is a term used by scientists to refer to the special type of box used to hold a living specimen. If its not alive, it goes in a box suitable for geological specimens. Look at the close-up photos and read the clues to decide if its alive or not.

Collect Specimens
Collect samples to fill the "Bio Box" and the "Geo Box" while learning about life near the thermal vents. The photos are taken from the submersible, Alvin which is the only light source as this is a world that lives in total darkness.

How Deep is Deep?
Scientists use submersibles like Alvin to explore deep sea vents miles beneath the ocean surface. This activity helps kids understand just how deep that is by comparing depth to famous landmarks such as the Empire State Building.

American Museum of Natural History
The American Museum of Natural History continues to sponsor expeditions to the deep sea vents. Check their site at http://www.amnh.org for more about the diversity of life on Earth.