Michele Wensman

Outreach Specialist and Benthic Ecology Research Technician

University of Michigan
Dana Building, G110A
440 Church Street
Ann Arbor, MI 48109-1041

mwensman@umich.edu

In the News:

Photo Gallery

CIGLR, GLOS and NOAA GLERL celebrating #HuronRiverDay at Gallup Park in Ann Arbor, MI! We had a macroinvertebrate exploration table, #GreatLakes & #FunFishy crafts, #FoodWeb games and more!! Photo Credit: Michele Wensman.

Michele Wensman preparing invasive Dreissenid mussel specimens. Photo Credit: CIGLR.

Outreach Specialist Michele Wensman enjoys talking about CIGLR’s Great Lakes research with a guest. Photo Credit: NOAA GLERL.

Michele Wensman and CIGLR Scientist Tom Johengen talk to University of Michigan students about CIGLR and NOAA programs at the UM-SEAS Open House! Photo Credit: Aubrey Lashaway.

NOAA GLERL’S Margaret Lansing, CILER’S Michele Wensman, and Sea Grant’s Elyse Larsen setting up for the Great Lakes Science Bowl, part of the National Ocean Science Bowl held at SNRE (Dana Building) University of Michigan and hosted by Michigan Sea Grant. February 7, 2017. Photo Credit: NOAA GLERL.

CIGLR’s Michele Wensman at IAGLR 2017. Photo Credit: Aubrey Lashaway.

GLERL Summer Fellow Cherise Spotkaeff and CIGLR’s Outreach Specialist, Michele Wensman, enjoying themselves and the atmosphere at the Ann Arbor Mayor’s Green Fair. Photo Credit: Katherine Glassner Shwayder.

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: NOAA GLERL.

We were excited to be in Scarborough, Ontario at IAGLR to learn and talk about our awesome Great Lakes! Photo Credit: Michele Wensman.

Outreach Specialist Michele Wensman enjoys talking about CIGLR’s Great Lakes research and demonstrating to guests how to use the 3D map illustrating the depth of Lake Michigan. Photo Credit: GLERL.

CIGLR GLOS and NOAA GLERL summer fellows interns scientists and staff celebrate 2017 HRD together by sharing their knowledge on GL environmental research. Photo NOAA GLERL.

CIGLR’s Michele Wensman adds algae to 200 gallons of lake water to measure its bio-optical properties. This data helps describe the algal groups present when looking at satellite & hyperspectral images of the Great Lakes. Photo Credit: NOAA GLERL.

CIGLR’s Michele Wensman mixes algae in 200 gallons of lake water in order to measure its bio-optical properties. This data helps describe the algal groups present when looking at satellite & hyperspectral images of the Great Lakes. Photo Credit: NOAA GLERL.

Nearly 20 lucky children were able to participate in a full day of fun and exciting science and #GreatLakes related activities. The volunteers involved @NOAA_GLERL created an atmosphere that turned Take-Your-Kid-To-Work-Day into an amazing experience for many kids! Here, they are making fish print t-shirts! Photo Credit: Michele Wensman.

CIGLR’s Michele Wensman and Glenn Carter work diligently in the @NOAA_GLERL Preserved Biology Laboratory! Photo Credit: Paul Glyshaw.

Michele Wensman picks through a 2016 southern #LakeMichigan benthic sample using a dissection microscope. Photo Credit: NOAA GLERL.

Research technician and outreach specialist, Michele Wensman, working the CIGLR outreach table at the 2019 MSU Science Festival. Photo Credit: Aubrey Lashaway.

Michele has a dual role at CIGLR as Outreach Specialist and Benthic Ecology Research Technician. As Outreach Specialist, Michele holds several responsibilities including: Coordinating CIGLR’s outreach events, assisting with the media library, working with the Great Lakes Summer Fellows, and conducting lab tours. Michele is a member of the CIGLR ECO Team.

As Benthic Ecology Research Technician, Michele works in GLERL’s Preserved Biology Laboratory under Dr. Ashley Elgin. Michele’s primary work is with long term research in Lake Michigan to process benthic invertebrate sediment samples, and to assist with the dreissenid mussel cage experiment and condition work in the Great Lakes Basin.

Prior to CIGLR, Michele held positions at two science centers, one in New Hampshire and one in Michigan, where some of her responsibilities included organizing and running fundraising events, cultivating a strong volunteer program, and conducting field science. Michele has enjoyed the many opportunities to connect communities and stakeholders to scientists and their research.

Education:

Vermont College of Norwich University, BA

Research Interest/Area of Expertise:
  • Freshwater and Marine Ecosystems
  • Water Quality
  • Phytoplankton Ecology
  • Benthic Ecology
  • Great Lakes Regional Ecosystems
  • Science Education and Outreach
Experiences:
  • Teach outreach programs for primary and secondary students; Coordinate and manage outreach events; Assist with annual fundraising events; Recruit, train, and coordinate adults, student interns, and teen volunteers; Update volunteer training manuals, provide continuing education for volunteers.
  • Volunteer for the Purple Loosestrife Biological Control program; New Hampshire Audubon Society’s bald eagle monitoring program; University of New Hampshire Cooperative Extension/Sea Grant phytoplankton and water quality monitoring program in the Gulf of Maine and Great Bay Estuary- identifying/cell counts of diatoms and dinoflagellates to detect HABS for impacts on coastal shellfish beds; raptor handler; GLANSIS website QC editor.
  • Assist with sediment sample benthos picking, sort and measure dreissenid mussel samples, conduct dreissenid mussel scanning, running and reconciling analysis, assist with dreissenid mussel condition factor and length-weight regression, update lab growth database, and growing algal cultures for hyperspectral HABs work in Lake Erie.
Presentations:

Vander Woude, Andrea; Steve Ruberg; Dack Stuart; Michele Wensman; Zachary Haslick. Great Lakes Hyperspectral Flyovers at NOAA GLERL. Poster Presentation.

Related Media:

CIGLR’s outreach mission is to connect with communities and work with them to solve the complex problems facing the Great Lakes. This year, CIGLR made connections with several communities in the Great Lakes region and reconnected with many familiar faces. CIGLR’s Outreach Specialist, Michele Wensman, says “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. 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.”