Accession 14-208

Smithsonian Institution. Office of Telecommunications

Productions, circa 1984-1995

Descriptive Entry

This accession consists of audiovisual elements created during the production of several films featuring the research of Walter H. Adey, Curator/Research Scientist in the Department of Botany and the Marine Systems Laboratory at the National Museum of Natural History (NMNH) and filmed by Karen Loveland, Producer in the Office of Telecommunications.

"Our Biosphere: The Earth in Our Hands" is a 60 minute film produced in 1989 and narrated by Robert Redford. The film follows the staff of the Marine Systems Laboratory and Space Biosphere Ventures as they work with scientists, architects, engineers, and builders in their attempt to create Biosphere 2, an experimental model of the Earth's ecosystems.

"The Sea: A Quest for Our Future" is a 60 minute film produced in 1984 and broadcast by the Public Broadcasting Service (PBS). It is a documentary on the complex ecosystems of tropical coral reefs and focuses primarily on research projects conducted by the Marine Systems Laboratory. The film won several awards including the 1984 Best Nature Production Award from the International TV Movie Festival; a second place award at the 1985 National Educational Film Festival; and a 1986 Gold Medal and Diploma of the International Scientific Festival.

"Coral Reefs: New Discoveries, New Resources" is a 30 minute version of "The Sea." It was produced in 1985 and distributed for educational purposes.

"Exploring Marine Ecosystems" is the collective name for six short videos that accompanied the exhibition of the same name in the Life in the Sea Hall at NMNH. They were added to the exhibition in 1995.

Materials include videotapes, many of which are masters. Some materials are in electronic format.

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Restrictions

Restrictions pertaining to the use of these materials may apply (based on contracts/copyright). Access restrictions may also apply if viewing copies are not currently available. Viewing copies can be made for a fee. Contact reference staff for details.

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Index Terms

This collection is indexed under the following access terms. These are links to collections with related topics, persons or places.

Name

• Adey, Walter H.
• Loveland, Karen
• Redford, Robert
• National Museum of Natural History (U.S.). Department of Botany
• National Museum of Natural History (U.S.). Marine Systems Laboratory
• National Museum of Natural History (U.S.). Life in the Sea Hall
• Space Biospheres Ventures
• Biosphere 2 (Project)
• Public Broadcasting Service (U.S.)
• Exploring Marine Ecosystems (Exhibition) (1985: Washington, D.C.)
• Coral Reefs: New Discoveries, New Resources (Motion picture : 1985)
• The Sea: A Quest for our Future (Motion picture : 1984)
• Our Biosphere: The Earth in Our Hands (Motion picture : 1989)
• Exploring Marine Ecosystems (Motion picture : 1995)

Subject

• Coral reef ecology
• Marine ecology
• Museum exhibits
• Research
• Motion pictures -- Production and direction
• Television -- Production and direction
• Documentary films
• Documentary television programs

Physical Characteristics of Materials in the Collection

• Electronic records
• Videotapes

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Administrative Information

Preferred Citation

Smithsonian Institution Archives, Accession 14-208, Smithsonian Institution. Office of Telecommunications, Productions

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