This Saskatchewan programmer is a finalist in a global competition for her Metaverse world
In an innovative effort to raise awareness about ocean health, Kristin Moskalyk and a team of programmers from the University of Saskatchewan have developed a virtual world within the Metaverse.
The project aims to educate people, particularly those in landlocked provinces like Saskatchewan and Alberta, about the importance of ocean conservation.
Moskalyk, the program designer, says she wanted to more people to know about the ongoing threat to the vital ecosystems in the world’s oceans.
"We wanted to try and create some awareness and empathy around what's happening in our oceans, and get them thinking about what they can do locally to make a difference worldwide," said Moskalyk
The virtual program leads participants through an island filled with infographics and interactive elements that encourage conservation efforts in daily life.
The development of this virtual world was part of a multinational contest organized by Exponential Destiny, a non-profit focused on integrating new technologies into educational spaces.
"The competition started about a year ago. We submitted our project after our professor, Paula McDowell, suggested we do that. It went through three or four rounds," said Moskalyk
The project emerged as a finalist among 257 teams from 70 different countries, earning Moskalyk and her team the opportunity to virtually attend a U.N. conference in New York.
(Noah Rishaug / CTV News)
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
DEVELOPING Slovakia's populist prime minister shot multiple times in attempted assassination
Slovakia's populist Prime Minister Robert Fico is in life-threatening condition after being wounded in a shooting after a political event Wednesday afternoon, according to his Facebook profile.
Transport Canada's UFO 'lead' planned to meet with U.S. intel officials, called info requests a 'wild goose chase'
Canada's transportation department had a UFO 'lead' who tried to 'quell' media interest and planned to meet with U.S. intelligence officials.
'Very expensive lunch': Sask. driver handed a cell phone ticket for using points app in McDonald's drive-thru
A warning from a Saskatoon driver about using your fast-food app while in the drive-thru line — a trip to get some free lunch cost him a lot more than he bargained for.
'The Fly' has become notorious in France after a brazen escape. What's his criminal history?
A prisoner nicknamed “The Fly” has become notorious in France overnight after a daring and bloody escape from a prison convoy in Normandy that left two guards dead.
BREAKING Ontario's 'crypto king' Aiden Pleterski arrested
Aiden Pleterski, the self-proclaimed 'crypto king' from Whitby, Ont., has been arrested in Durham Region after allegedly running a Ponzi scheme worth more than $40 million.
BREAKING Barge hits a bridge in Texas, damaging the structure and causing an oil spill
A barge hit a bridge in Galveston, Texas, on Wednesday, spilling oil into surrounding waters and closing the only road to a small island, officials said.
Person responsible for 1996 drugging of 'Titanic' crew likely not a local: Halifax police
Halifax Regional Police believe a non-resident could be responsible for the infamous drugging of numerous crew members of the 'Titanic' movie with a hallucinogenic in 1996.
Latest updates on the biggest wildfires burning in Canada
Thousands of people in Western Canada remain displaced from their homes as wildfires threaten their communities, triggering evacuation orders and alerts.
OPINION Your attention span is shrinking, studies say. Here's how to stay focused: Sandee LaMotte
Regaining your focus requires you to be mindful of how you are using technology -- a daunting task if you consider the average American spends at least 10 hours a day on screens.