An Explainer squeezes out the vitreous humor, a jelly-like substance, from a freshly sliced cow’s eye. A crowd of school children reacts with mixed screams of delight and disgust. However, on this "field trip" the cow’s eye dissection is taking place live in the Hall, but the kids looking on are sitting in their classroom two miles away at P.S. 144 in Forest Hills. Welcome to Virtual Visit, a way for teachers and students to experience the New York Hall of Science using cutting-edge video teleconferencing technology.

A Virtual Visit is a two-way audio and video link between a museum Explainer and a group of students. The class can see and hear everything the Explainer does, and the Explainer can see and hear the entire class, allowing the class to enjoy

interacting with the Explainer in much the same way they would do during a physical visit. The Explainer will lead the class in discussions and hands-on activities, and can wander freely about the Hall’s 400 exhibits, using them to demonstrate important scientific concepts.

"We’re hoping that this will enable schools who don’t have the time or resources to physically visit the Hall of Science more than once a year, if at all, to enjoy a Virtual Visit," said Education Director Preeti Gupta. "Other museums are joining our Virtual Visit Network and offering similar programming."

For more information on Virtual Visit, call 718.699.0005 ext. 319, e-mail clawrence@nyscience.org or visit our Virtual Visit Page in Educator Connections. For information on other education programs the Hall offers, see the Fun & Learning section.