NEW BERLIN – At about 7:40 p.m. last Thursday, the black projection screen in the Unadilla Valley Auditorium suddenly came to life and a marine biologist on the other side of the world told attendants in an inviting accent, “Hello everyone and welcome to the future. Right now it’s 9:40 a.m. on a beautiful Friday morning here in Australia.”

About 60 students, teachers and local citizens filled the UV auditorium last week for a distance-learning presentation that would connect them to the city of Townsville in Queensland, Australia, a place 14 hours into the future along the shores of the Great Barrier Reef.

Reef HQ Aquarium is an Educational Center for the nearby reef and contains the world largest living coral reef aquarium.