PhD Student Ayesha Qazi-Lampert Conducts Great Lakes Research Aboard EPA’s Largest Research Vessel
Introduction
Mathematics and Science Education PhD student Ayesha Qazi-Lampert was one of three Illinois educators selected to spend a week alongside scientists aboard the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's largest research vessel, the R/V Lake Guardian, during a Lake Superior research expedition.
Through a partnership among the EPA Great Lakes National Program Office, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), and the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative, Qazi-Lampert joined scientists and fellow educators in supporting Great Lakes research and environmental monitoring efforts. The expedition was hosted in collaboration with Minnesota Sea Grant, Wisconsin Sea Grant, and Illinois-Indiana Sea Grant.
Research teams aboard the vessel investigated a range of Great Lakes ecosystems and environmental processes, using specialized tools and techniques to study diporeia, mysis, larval fish, zooplankton, photochemistry, and the effects of light on aquatic systems. The R/V Lake Guardian is equipped with three dedicated laboratories, including wet, chemistry, and biology labs, allowing scientists to conduct research directly on the water. The program aims to strengthen Great Lakes literacy, foster lasting partnerships between scientists and educators, and support the integration of Great Lakes science into classroom curricula.