R2P2

SANTA BARBARA, CA — The Santa Barbara County Air Pollution Control District (APCD) and the Santa Maria Valley Discovery Museum today announced the landing of a robot, R2P2 (the Robot Resource for Pollution Prevention) at the Museum for an extended visit. R2P2 is APCD’s interactive touch screen kiosk with educational games and features designed to teach kids about air pollution.

Says Museum Executive Director Cindy Ransick, “R2P2 is a lot of fun to have around! I sometimes feel as I walk through the museum he is calling to me to come and learn something new.” The Museum attracts about 25,000 visitors a year. R2P2 has visited the museum before, and is now back with many new interactive features.

R2P2 is person-sized (5''7"), and was put together by local artist Daniel Girard out of recycled equipment that can cause air pollution: his cap is the top of a charcoal grill; his eyes are aerosol cans; his torso is an old gas tank; his arms are older gas pump nozzles; and his base is a gas lawn mower. His body is coated with powdered paint, which is more environmentally friendly than spray paint.

R2P2’s face is the touch screen that runs his internal computer. Choices include: information on health effects of air pollution with video showing how air pollution affects lungs and hearts; games in which kids figure out how to save a fictional planet (Planet Polluto) from the effects of air pollution; and other games and features that illustrate where air pollution comes from, and what people can do to help keep our air clean.

Museum Manager Renee LaRocco notes, “The kids love him. They’re really enjoying playing with all his new features. All the ages that come to the museum are really enjoying him.” R2P2 will be visiting the Museum for several months into the spring and early summer. To visit R2P2, see information on the Santa Maria Valley Discovery Museum here: www.smvdiscoverymuseum.org, or call 805-928-8414.

For more information on R2P2, see this page.

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