Fall 2017 eNewsletter
Outreach Spotlight
Connecting with Great Lakes Communities – the Many Faces of Science Outreach
The days of science remaining in the boundaries of a university campus are something of the past. Not only has research become more collaborative and global, but the relationship between scientists and the public has become extremely important. For this reason, CIGLR has committed to expand our science outreach efforts across the Great Lakes basin.
CIGLR’s outreach mission is to connect with communities and work with them to solve the complex problems facing the Great Lakes. This summer CIGLR made connections with several new communities in the Great Lakes region as well as reconnected with many familiar faces. We work closely with our NOAA partners, especially the NOAA Great Lakes Environmental Research Laboratory (GLERL), to deliver hands-on access to our Great Lakes research.
CIGLR’s Outreach Specialist, Michele Wensman, says what makes her most excited is the public’s engagement with our staff and scientists. “The idea is to educate, motivate, and have a conversation about our greatest freshwater resource. Many people claim they do not know a lot about the Great Lakes until you ask them which is their favorite or when they spin the colorful Great Lakes trivia spinning wheel at our booth. Then, we get to talking about family history, vacations, fishing, and how traditions are handed down through generations. The stories and memories surrounding their experiences on the Great Lakes are fantastic! People also share their concerns and begin asking questions. It is the perfect time to talk about our research.”
CIGLR’s outreach program participates in local, regional, and international events. “The more people we can reach and the more we share our common bond about the Great Lakes, whether it be through research or recreation, the greater our success is together throughout the region,” says Wensman. “CIGLR is always coming up with something new for our outreach efforts. We look forward to connecting with even more Great Lakes communities in the future and hope to continue inspiring and encouraging a culture of Great Lakes stewardship. If you see us at an event, stop by and say hello!”
To learn more about CIGLR’s outreach program, follow this link: https://ciglr.seas.umich.edu/outreach-education/eco-program/
Follow CIGLR’s highlighted outreach events through this photo documentary.
International Association for Great Lakes Research Conference (IAGLR) – May 15-19, 2017 – Detroit, Michigan
IAGLR is a scientific organization of researchers that study the large lakes of the world. Annually, this group holds a conference on Great Lakes research that alternates between a United States and Canadian location. Hundreds of scientists, students, and other professionals from various disciplines attend.
CIGLR’s Outreach Specialist, Michele Wensman, showcasing our Regional Consortium of over 40 institutions and organizations that expand NOAA’s access to research expertise and infrastructure across the Great Lakes basin. Photo Credit: GLERL.
It was an amazing time to be represnting CIGLR at IAGLR in 2017. The University of Michigan had just won the award to lead NOAA’s next Cooperative Institute in the Great Lakes. Photo Credit: Michele Wensman.
L-R: Euan Reavie (University of Minnesota Duluth) and Tom Johengen (CIGLR) meet to talk about Great Lakes science and partnerships during the IAGLR poster session. Photo Credit: Michele Wensman.
Andy Xiao (CIGLR Postdoctoral Fellow) presents a Great Lakes model that links the atmosphere with terrestrial (land based) hydrology. Photo Credit: Michele Wensman.
James Kessler (CIGLR Research Specialist) enjoys conversation about research that forecasts the seasonal ice cover over the Great Lakes. Photo Credit: GLERL.
David Wells (CIGLR Research Technician) welcomes everyone to his poster to discuss field collections in Lake Michigan using the Multiple Opening/Closing Net and Environmental Sensing System (MOCNESS). Photo Credit: NOAA GLERL.
Kerrin Mabrey (CIGLR Research Assistant) explains experimental results related to growth rates of the invasive quagga mussel. Photo Credit: Michele Wensman.
Lindsay Fitzpatrick (CIGLR Atmospheric Data Analyst) showcased model results predicting and reconstructing the historic 2014 Lake Erie lake effect snow event. Photo Credit: Michele Wensman.
CIGLR’s Great Lakes Summer Fellow Huayun Zhou and CIGLR Assistant Research Scientist Ayumi Manome talk about pollution control in China’s Yangzong Lake. Photo Credit: Michele Wensman.
Thumb Area STEAM Showcase – May 11, 2017 – Bad Axe, Michigan
The STEAM showcase is a community festival located in the “Thumb” area of Michigan. This festival celebrates the talents of local K-12 students in the areas Science, Technology, Engineering, the Arts, and Mathematics (STEAM). It is a highly interactive event with many hands-on science activities, robotics stations, and creature features. Thousands of families, educators, and agency members attend.
CIGLR and our partners from GLERL participate in the annual “Thumb” Area STEAM showcase. CIGLR brings creative, educational activities for families to enjoy together such as “Make your own Invasive Species.” Photo Credit: GLERL.
CIGLR’s Outreach Specialist Michele Wensman helps grade school students create their own Great Lakes invasive species. Photo Credit: GLERL.
A group of friends diligently builds their best Great Lakes invasive species. Photo Credit: GLERL.
A young elementary student shows off her newly created Great Lakes invasive species. She has proudly named it the Long-Tongued Elephant Eel! Photo Credit: GLERL.
A table full of Great Lakes learning and crafting. Students had the opportunity to learn about and make their very own Great Lakes Invasive Species. Photo Credit: GLERL.
A father and son enjoying learning about Great Lakes science and the critters that live in the lakes. Photo Credit: GLERL.
Mayor’s Green Fair – June 9, 2017 – Ann Arbor, Michigan
The Ann Arbor mayor’s office hosts an annual Green Fair to celebrate the community’s environmental leadership. Environmental information and how-to-live-green materials are made available via displays and hands-on activities. Hundreds of local citizens, nonprofits, governments, and businesses attend.
2017 CIGLR Great Lakes Summer Fellow, Kennedy Connolly (Oakland University), sets up the outreach table and hands-on activities including the Great Lakes trivia wheel and invasive species. Photo Credit: Michele Wensman.
2017 CIGLR Great Lakes Summer Fellow, Verena Lucke (Indiana University), quizzes a young Great Lakes enthusiast using an interactive map. Photo Credit: Katherine Glassner-Shwayder.
GLERL Summer Fellow Char’mane Robinson talking about the Lake Huron food web and the impacts of invasive species. Photo Credit: Katherine Glassner-Shwayder.
CIGLR and GLERL 2017 Summer Fellows at the 2017 Ann Arbor Mayors Green Fair. CIGLR’s Great Lakes Summer Fellows participate in the summer education and outreach events as part of the program’s career training element. Photo Credit: Michele Wensman.
2017 CIGLR Great Lakes Summer Fellow Kennedy Connolly and Communications Specialist Aubrey Lashaway play Great Lakes Trivia with an inquisitive student. Photo Credit: Katherine Glassner-Shwayder.
Curious Great Lakes residents look at the invasive species specimens we have available at our outreach table. These props are an excellent way to start a conversation. Photo Credit: Katherine Glassner-Shwayder.
2017 CIGLR Great Lakes Summer Fellow, Verena Lucke (Indiana University), shows a young student how to use the interactive Great Lakes map. Photo Credit: Katherine Glassner-Shwayder.
Huron River Day – July 9, 2017 – Ann Arbor, Michigan
The Huron River Day celebration encourages partnerships among local governments, foundations, and nonprofit organizations to educate citizens about the importance of water quality and the preservation of our natural resources. Nearly 2,500 people from the surrounding community attend!
Great Lakes’ enthusiasm spans all ages! An excited young student waits patiently to spin the Great Lakes Trivia Wheel. Photo Credit: GLERL.
Outreach Specialist Michele Wensman enjoys talking about CIGLR’s Great Lakes research while guests check out the 3D maps illustrating the depth of the Great Lakes. Photo Credit: GLERL.
Our Great Lakes Observing System (GLOS) partners brought an exciting “Make your own Great Lakes Fish” activity. Families were lined up to make their own fish and to learn about the fish live in the Great Lakes. Photo Credit: Michele Wensman.
Helping the next generation of Great Lakes scientists and advocates create their own fish species at the Huron River Day festival in Ann Arbor, MI. Photo Credit: Michele Wensman.
Far left, 2017 CIGLR Great Lakes Summer Fellow Kylan Hopper (Western Washington University) quizzes grade school children on their Great Lakes knowledge using an interactive map. Middle, graduate student Peter Alsip (SEAS, University of Michigan) and 2017 CIGLR Great Lakes Summer Fellow Verena Lucke (Indiana University) show a curious family what a few invasive species look like with preserved samples. Photo Credit: Michele Wensman.
2017 CIGLR Great Lakes Summer Fellows Angelika Kurthen (University of Michigan) and Kylan Hopper (Western Washington University) and graduate student Peter Alsip (SEAS, University of Michigan) talk about the Lake Huron food web and invasive species with a curious family. Photo Credit: Michele Wensman.
2017 CIGLR Great Lakes Summer Fellow Verena Lucke (Indiana University) plays a Lake Huron food web game with one of our youngest Great Lakes enthusiasts. Photo Credit: GLERL.
“My favorite Great Lake is Erie because we’ve gone there as a family and swam in it.” At the Huron River Day event we asked our visitors to tell us their favorite Great Lake and why. All five of our amazing Great Lakes got some love. Photo Credit: Michele Wensman.
“My favorite Great Lake is Lake Huron because we vacation there with our family.” The CIGLR outreach team interacts with guests in many unique ways. At the Huron River Day event we asked our visitors to tell us their favorite Great Lake and why. Activities like this start good conversations and lead to meaningful interactions with the public. Photo Credit: Michele Wensman.
“My favorite Great Lake is Lake Michigan because I like to swim.” Photo Credit: Michele Wensman.
“My favorite Great Lake is Lake Ontario because it’s by Niagara Falls and is very pretty.” Photo Credit: Michele Wensman.
“My favorite Great Lake is Lake Superior because it’s the biggest lake.” Photo Credit: Michele Wensman.
Soo Locks Engineer’s Weekend – June 30 – July 1, 2017 – Sault Ste Marie, Michigan
Each year at the end of June, the Soo Locks in Sault Ste Marie, Michigan opens up for a family friendly festival celebrating the Great Lakes and the engineering marvel that is the lock system (the largest waterway traffic system on earth). Visitors have the opportunity to meet Great Lakes engineers and scientists as well as enjoy a once-per-year sneak peek of what goes on behind the scenes at the Soo Locks. Nearly 10,000 people from around the world attend.
Visitors watch as a large ship enters the locks. Visitors are allowed across the locks and into historically important structures of the world’s busiest Lock systems. Photo Credit: Michele Wensman.
Looking down from the engineer’s tower at the complex locks system that is part of the Saint Lawrence Seaway. Photo Credit: Michele Wensman.
CIGLR, GLERL and GLOS, participate in the Soo Locks Engineer’s Weekend that celebrates the engineers who built the Soo Locks, along with the men and women of the past and present who maintain the Locks and allow for successful shipping through the Great Lakes. Photo Credit: Michele Wensman.
Visitors enjoy looking at the different Great Lakes food webs and invasive species specimens at our outreach table. Photo Credit: Michele Wensman.
CIGLR’s Outreach Specialist Michele Wensman uses a trivia game to launch meaningful conversation about the Great Lakes. Photo Credit: GLERL.
Physical Scientist Ann Clites (GLERL) prepared to discuss Great Lakes water levels. Photo Credit: Michele Wensman.
The CIGLR, GLERL, and GLOS outreach teams often partner together to connect with communities and bring information about our Great Lakes research. L-R: Michele Wensman (CIGLR), Kristin Schrader (GLOS), Ann Clites (GLERL), and Nicole Rice (GLERL). Photo Credit: Michele Wensman.
Healing Our Waters Conference (HOW) – October 17-19, 2017 – Buffalo, New York
Healing Our Waters (HOW)-Great Lakes Coalition brings together a diverse group of more than 400 people from throughout the Great Lakes region. HOW conference participants learn about issues and develop plans for Great Lakes restoration as well as network with one of the largest groups of Great Lakes supporters and advocates.
CIGLR and GLERL teamed up to participate in the 2017 Healing Our Waters (HOW) conference in Buffalo, NY. Photo Credit: Michele Wensman.
Lauren White (Program Coordinator – NOAA Great Lakes Restoration Initiative) answers questions about the Great Lakes research projects being done at GLERL. Photo Credit: Michele Wensman.
Andrea Densham (Shedd Aquarium) stopped by to talk about Lake Michigan monitoring. Andrea told us that she checks the GLOS buoy every morning before she does an open water swim in the Chicago waters of Lake Michigan. Photo Credit: Michele Wensman.
Kathy Evans (West Michigan Shoreline Regional Development Commission) stopped to chat with us about the Muskegon Lake Area of Concern (AOC). She is involved in restoring fish and wildlife habitat in the Muskegon Lake AOC. Photo Credit: Michele Wensman.
Dave Rosenthal from NPR News and managing editor for Great Lakes Today was excited to talk about the ongoing Great Lakes research at CIGLR and GLERL. Photo Credit: Michele Wensman.
David Spangler from the Lake Erie Charter Boat Association holds a jar of Microcystis from Maumee Bay near Toledo, OH. Spangler organizes opportunities for the Lake Erie Charter Boat Association’s (LECBA) 300 members to learn about the latest harmful algal bloom science and management efforts. Photo Credit: Michele Wensman.