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We're preparing to open a new sharks exhibit in April, and in conjunction with the exhibit we're launching a campaign to encourage visitors to change a specific consumer behavior in order to protect shark species in the wild. We want to identify a specific action that people can do, are willing to do and that will have a positive impact -- no matter whether it's large or small. Since the action will be tied closely to the exhibition content, this is different from a broad-based recommendation like recycle or don't pollute, or suggesting general civic behaviors such as support this issue or write your legislator.

My question for the list:

* Has anyone ever attempted to get visitors to change a specific behavior (don't buy this; or do buy that) in support of an environmental conservation goal?

* How did you go about it? How successful were you? How did you measure your success, or lack of success? 

We're familiar with both the conservation psychology and social marketing literature and are looking more specifically for examples of successful conservation-related consumer behaviors encouraged by free-choice learning institutions.

Any information you can offer will be of tremendous help.


Jenny Sayre RAMBERG
Exhibit Developer/Writer
Monterey Bay Aquarium
886 Cannery Row
Monterey, CA 93940
831-648-7991; [log in to unmask]
On the web at www.montereybayaquarium.org
Our mission is to inspire conservation of the oceans.
Celebrating our 20th anniversary in 2004

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