Tim teaches young scientists in the virtual lab

Virtual Laboratory

Virtual Laboratory

See research in action and learn what we are doing to keep Lake Tahoe blue and healthy.

  • Visit a science lab.
  • Peek through a microscope and view tiny aquatic creatures.
  • Watch scientists at work and investigate why Lake Tahoe is changing.

Video Exhibits

Aquarium Exhibits

See three different aquariums of the true residents of Lake Tahoe. Our two larger 75-gallon aquariums showcase native versus non-native fish species side by side. You can compare the differing sizes and morphology of fish.  Lahontan Cutthroat trout are showcased in the native tank. Once the top predator of Lake Tahoe, their population was decimated by commercial overfishing and the introduction of Lake Trout. UC Davis TERC hosts the Trout in the Classroom program that seeks to teach students about the life cycle of a fish, tell the story of Lahontan Cutthroat Trout, and reintroduce this once thriving species back into Lake Tahoe. 

Exhibits use cutting-edge technology to engage visitors, including video technology that utilizes a unique dual-screen system with a 65-inch plasma display to give the illusion that visitors are being greeted by live researchers on the boat and in the lab.

Hal Sloan, founder and principal of e-Motion Video, produced all of the videos for these exhibits together with TERC staff. The entire production cycle took five months and more than 100 hours of field production time, including microscopic and underwater videography. Over 100 hours of post production work went into the videos to create the cutting-edge audio/visual system that makes these exhibits come alive.

The result is a high-tech engaging video presentation that effectively communicates the centers messages while entertaining and dazzling visitors young and old.