News and Views

GaiaXus Navigator: AI With Guardrails

By Dietrich | March 2, 2026

A few months ago, I attended an education technology conference in New York where the main topic, over and over again, was artificial intelligence. I left New York with a lot of concerns about AI and its impact on education. That was awkward, because we were in the middle of developing our own software backbone […]

The Case for Citizen Science

By Dietrich | November 7, 2025

One winter morning, I found myself chest-deep in an icy swamp with ten volunteers cleaning up nesting boxes and tabulating the breeding success of migratory wood ducks. The volunteers were hunters, fiercely protective of their ducks’ habitat even when the birds were relaxing on a beach somewhere south. During that morning, I learned a lot […]

AI in Education: Just How Elastic Is the Bubble?

By Dietrich | October 22, 2025

I had the great (and greatly expensive) pleasure of attending and exhibiting at EDTECH Week in New York. The conference brought together thought leaders in education technology and startups and covered the grand themes of our time: AI in education, education and AI, AI and workforce development, how AI will change education, and finally, how […]

Connecting Classrooms and Communities: GaiaXus at the mEducation Alliance Conference

By Dietrich | October 13, 2025

We had the great fortune to attend, present, and exhibit at last week’s mEducation Alliance Symposium in Virginia. This was our fourth (!) time exhibiting, and as always, it was an amazing event – bringing together thought leaders in education from all over the world.  And watching our amazing academic collaborator Dr. Pascale Pinner give […]

Water Quality is Everyone’s Business

By Dietrich | October 3, 2025

On Tuesday we were in Hanover, Virginia, for the Virginia Water Monitoring Council Conference. The room was a mix of state and municipal staff, university researchers, and citizen science groups that have been at this work for decades. Different backgrounds and priorities, but a shared goal: keeping water clean because it fuels health, livelihoods, and […]

Enjoying Nature, Protecting Nature: A Modern Reflection

By Dietrich | September 29, 2025

This past Saturday, our local chapter of the Izaak Walton League hosted its annual Hunting and Fishing Day, and once again the lakeside pavilion filled with people who care about the outdoors, whether through their work, their hobbies, or their curiosity. We brought our Water Guardians to show how students, citizen scientists, and anyone interested […]

Advancing STEM Education with Support from the U.S. Department of Education

By Dietrich | September 18, 2025

We are pleased to share that GaiaXus has been awarded a Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase Ib contract from the U.S. Department of Education. This support marks an important step forward as we continue developing tools that bring environmental science into classrooms and communities. Our work has always centered on making STEM learning more […]

Balancing Impact and Sustainability at Rally Sea in Orlando

By Dietrich | September 17, 2025

(c) Rallly This month, GaiaXus was invited to join nine other ventures from around the world at the RallySea Co-Creation Lab in Orlando. The program brought together entrepreneurs, educators, and industry leaders who share a commitment to building sustainable enterprises. Over several days, we received one-on-one coaching and visited companies that have successfully integrated sustainability […]

The GaiaXus Photometer: Affordable Nutrient Monitoring for Everyone

By Dietrich | July 29, 2025

 The GaiaXus Photometer: Affordable Nutrient Monitoring for Everyone We’re excited to announce the release of the GaiaXus Photometer, our newest tool for environmental monitoring. Designed for educators, citizen scientists, and field researchers, the GaiaXus Photometer makes it easy to measure nitrate and phosphate levels in water using trusted test kits from NECi-the global leader in […]

GaiaXus Joins the Rally 2025 Summer Cohort as a Fellow!

By Dietrich | July 11, 2025

We’re excited to share that GaiaXus has been selected as a Fellow in the Rally ONE Summer 2025 Cohort. Rally is a venture-building program based in Orlando, Florida that supports early-stage companies focused on environmental, educational, and social impact. Over the course of the fellowship, we’ll work with experienced coaches and other founders to refine […]

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