The best way for students to catch a glimpse of undersea life has almost always been a field trip to the aquarium. But within a few years, teachers could have a new technology resource at their disposal that turns part of the Pacific Ocean into a round-the-clock observation tank accessible from school computer labs.

Labeled the NEPTUNE Project—for Northeast Pacific Time Series Undersea Networked Experiments—this University of Washington-led initiative would place nearly 2,000 miles of fiber-optic cable deep below the water's surface in an effort to record marine life as it exists in its natural habitat. The images would be streamed in real time to classrooms, museums, and laboratories nationwide, letting students and scientists press their fingers to the glass 24 hours a day.

"We think there is a real opportunity for those scientists interested in education and outreach to bring people generally, including young children, along on this adventure," said John Madden, vice chairman of the project's executive team.

It's an adventure, Madden says, that would provide critical data for scientists as well as interactive activities for students, covering everything from the migration patterns of salmon to the reasons earthquakes sometimes result from the shifting of tectonic plates.

Installation of the massive fiber-optic cable infrastructure—a joint venture between researchers in the United States and Canada—would take place just over the Juan de Fuca tectonic plate off the coast of Portland, Ore.

Using the ultra high-speed backbone of Internet2 (I2)—which can transmit information a hundred times faster than a T-1 connection to the current internet—the system would provide real-time data and imagery to shore-based locations. It also would allow scientists to control submarines and other robotic vehicles remotely from land and might serve as a test bed for remote sensors designed to explore other areas of the solar system.

Although NEPTUNE is primarily a research endeavor meant to yield results that improve scientists' understanding of the environment, Madden said its implications for education and outreach also are important. That's because NEPTUNE marks the first time any major scientific project has set out to stream images of underwater life in real time to K-12 classrooms.

Once the project is operational, Madden said he expects a team of educators to spearhead efforts that will transform the multi-million dollar scientific investment into a never-before-tapped educational resource. "We envision a group of specialists in education—who have an interest in the sea—will prepare materials for schools," he said.

Although he is not sure yet what those resources would be, Madden said they are likely to include everything from carefully crafted lesson plans on oceanography and fish migration to interactive activities that invite children to observe the work of oceanographers and other scientists in progress.