We have been commissioned to develop a pilot four day collaborative lab project to investigate the public's perceptions and understanding of the current state of the world's oceans. The labs will take place in March 2012 at the ROM and will be positioned in relation to the Life in Crisis program in the Schad Gallery of Biodiversity. In consultation with ROM staff, we are developing a set of interactive tools designed to engage the various audiences who attend the museum (through diverse programs, events and times, including both casual and structured visits) emphasizing hands-on and experiential activities. We want to know more about public perceptions of the state of the oceans, how people see themselves in relation to marine species and ecosystems, and what they imagine the future has in store for the oceans should current patterns of change continue. We look to probe what people understand to be the main factors impacting the state of the oceans and explore the public's perception/understanding of keystone species, who is at risk and who is thriving, and the consequences of their potential loss. We are also planning to probe how the public sees ocean species in relation to other species (a kind of exploration of empathy). We will post exact dates and times of the labs soon.