The Aquatic Biosphere Project is a new ecotourism development based in Edmonton, Alberta. A next generation facility, this project is developing an aquatic ecosystem attraction & education facility rooted in conservation & research. Experiencing the 'Story of Water', the visitor will explore connections of water, humans and biodiversity through interactive digital, physical & live exhibits that will engage & inspire.

Digital content and storytelling is a large component of this project so the online presence needs to be strong and directed. It needs the support of media/communications that is seamlessly integrated, coordinated and agile. There are three distinct areas for analysis & correction: website, social media, video & podcast platforms. The end goal is to analyze, update and refine current digital and social media content and practices to:

a) enhance & attract project supporters & donors while building an active community base;

b) provide ongoing project updates to stakeholders.

• Website analysis of user experiences and information flow.
• Recommendations for website remediation, reduction of friction, increased engagement and donor participation.
• Fixes applied to the site, including any restructuring, content revisions/additions, implementation of needed add-ons.
• Alignment of social media platforms for profile information and implementation cleanup.
• Marketing and communications plan for increasing community size and engagement across all platforms as well as for engaging advertisers and sponsors on specific platforms and donors on others.
• Social media content plan for six months.
• Create standardized template reporting for use in regular platform analytics reviews across all aspects of online presence to support supporter and advertiser outcomes.

We will provide up to 15 hours of mentorship to the students of this project in the realm of non-profit management, funding, and capitol project development. A team communications plan for online chat conversations and video meetings will be determined at first meeting. Interns will have a rare opportunity to be a part of the process of building a legacy project for a region, participating in the move from grassroots to realized infrastructure. Practical application of digital presence, social media strategies and outbound communications for this project should prove interesting and fun.