NOAA Sea Grant Marine Debris Symposium
I had the incredible opportunity to attend the 2024 Sea Grant Marine Debris Symposium at the NOAA Research Offices in Silver Spring, Maryland. It was an inspiring event, and I’m genuinely grateful to have connected with experts, educators, and researchers-all united by their passion for protecting our waterways. My Takeaways Marine Debris: It’s staggering how […]
Wrapping Up Water Quality Monitoring on the Severn River
Our final water quality monitoring trip of the season with the Severn River Association (SRA), led by Captain Tom Guay, was a data-rich journey. Over ten monitoring stations, we measured water temperature, salinity, and clarity using the Secchi Disk. This data is essential in tracking the health of the Severn, especially as we face new […]
Enhancing Partnerships for Aina-based NGSS Experiences
We are thrilled to continue our work with Dr. Pascale Pinner to advance innovative STEM education for students in Hilo, Hawaii. As the technology partner in this initiative, our focus is on exploring the intersection of NGSS-aligned STEM education with cultural relevance, ‘āina-based (place-based) learning, and meaningful community engagement. Together, we are committed to integrating […]
Collaborative research project with the University of Maryland Baltimore Campus (UMBC)
We are excited to announce the start of our collaboration with the University of Maryland Baltimore Campus. Dr Govind Rao’s team at The Center for Advanced Sensor Technology (CAST) at UMBC promotes the development of sensors for biomedical, bioprocess, environmental, and homeland defense applications. The collaboration is funded by the MIPS program for the duration […]
Brackish Water
Thank you to Professors Tammy Domanski & Seth Miller from the Anne Arundel Community College and STEM teacher Heather Carter from the Anne Arundel County School System, we presented the GaiaXus Learning System at Spa Creek near the amazing Chesapeake Children’s Museum. We brought 4 water quality monitors with tablets and plenty of line to […]
Winter 2023 Stream Monitoring – Seneca Creek
Monitoring macroinvertebrates, or small aquatic insects and other creatures without backbones, is crucial for assessing the health of freshwater ecosystems and the quality of the water they inhabit. These organisms serve as bioindicators, meaning they can provide a snapshot of the overall health of the ecosystem, including water quality. By monitoring the types and abundance […]
Water Quality – Beta Testing in Cleveland
We were fortunate to be invited to present our water quality monitoring prototypes to a group of high and middle school teachers at the West Creek Watershed Stewardship Center in Cleveland, Ohio. Organized by Jim Bader from Case Western Reserve, a group of expert STEM educators met for 4 hours to learn about our system, […]
Ringing a bell
One year ago today, I “rang the bell” at the Skip Viragh Outpatient Center after I finished my 12th and final round of chemotherapy. Nurses and staff cheered me on, I was in tears, their compassion was overwhelming. My journey through diagnosis, surgery, and therapy was fairly typical, there are over 106,000 new cases like […]
Shem Creek Kayak Excursion
In September, 18 students, 2 teachers, and 3 kayaking guides went on a kayaking excursion along the Shem River, SC to discuss estuary ecology, water quality parameters, and shorebird conservation. The objectives for the lesson were as follows: Students will be able to measure the turbidity, salinity, and temperature of brackish water within an estuary […]
GaiaXus and RPM Technologies partner to develop environmental monitors
Germantown & Forest Hill, Maryland, August 3rd, 2022. GaiaXus LLC, a Maryland-based start up company technology and Rapid Prototyping and Manufacturing Technologies (RPM Tech) announce their partnership to develop low-cost, accurate and internet connected (IoT) environmental sensors for citizen scientists and education. GaiaXus LLC was founded in November 2021 with the goal to increase scientific […]