Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

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GVSU Annis Water Resources Institute @gvsu-awri.bsky.social · 26d

Emma Campbell joined AWRI this fall as a research technician in the Jones Lab after completing her bachelor's degree at Reed College in 2024. At AWRI, she's excited to hit the ground running with a number of lab projects and community outreach initiatives. Welcome to GVSU, Emma!

GVSU Annis Water Resources Institute @gvsu-awri.bsky.social · 28d

The Laker Raker has had a busy summer, joining the Boys & Girls Club of the Muskegon Lakeshore and the Pere Marquette Adopt-a-Beach Team for their cleanup events, and even attended the Great Lakes Surf Festival! #Meijer #GLPCleanup #CGLRGreatLakes #PollutionProbe

GVSU Annis Water Resources Institute @gvsu-awri.bsky.social · Sep 3

Students are back on campus for the fall semester and we have a new cohort of GVSU graduate students. Help us give a warm welcome to the newest researchers at AWRI! Read more about our grad students and their thesis research at www.gvsu.edu/wri/current-....

Grant helps GVSU team monitor invasive species in Michigan forests

GVSU Annis Water Resources Institute @gvsu-awri.bsky.social · Aug 28

@partridgecg.bsky.social

GVSU Annis Water Resources Institute @gvsu-awri.bsky.social · Aug 28

Dr. Charlyn Partridge and her lab are featured in this GVNext article for their work using molecular techniques to monitor an invasive insect attacking Michigan's eastern hemlock trees. 🧪

www.gvsu.edu/gvnext/2025/...

Summer is a prime time for GVSU researchers. We'll show you some of the projects making an impact.

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GVSU Annis Water Resources Institute @gvsu-awri.bsky.social · Aug 27

Today, August 27, is the first annual World Lake Day! Connect with your local waters by joining your lake’s stewardship group, supporting research, picking up trash during a lakeside walk, or enjoying lakes via fishing, boating, and other recreational activities!
📸: Cory Morse

GVSU study analyzes 50 West Michigan lakes for salt runoff

GVSU Annis Water Resources Institute @gvsu-awri.bsky.social · Aug 15

AWRI researchers Katie Tyrrell, Alexis Porter, and Mya Harmer were featured by GVNext in an article about efforts to survey 50 lakes in West Michigan for salt pollution. 🧪https://www.gvsu.edu/gvnext/2025/gvsu-study-analyzes-50-west-michigan-lakes-for-salt-runoff.htm

Summer is a prime time for GVSU researchers. We'll show you some of the projects making an impact.

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GVSU Annis Water Resources Institute @gvsu-awri.bsky.social · Aug 1

National Intern Day was this week and AWRI celebrated the accomplishments of our 2025 interns with a mini symposium where they shared the results of their summer research with other students, faculty, and staff. Great job, everyone!

GVSU Annis Water Resources Institute @gvsu-awri.bsky.social · Jul 31

Dr. Daniel Gschwentner joined the Jones Lab this summer as a postdoctoral research scientist after earning his PhD at @unlincoln.bsky.social, where he studied the impact of nutrients, climate change and wildfire on lake functioning. Welcome to GVSU, Daniel!

GVSU Annis Water Resources Institute @gvsu-awri.bsky.social · Jul 30

Bennett McAfee joined AWRI this summer as a data scientist after earning his MS in Freshwater and Marine Science at @uwmadison.bsky.social. As part of AWRI Director Stuart Jones’ Lab, Bennett will be collaborating with multiple AWRI researchers on big data projects. Welcome to GVSU, Bennett!

The GLOBE Water Tent at Grand Valley State University in Michigan

GVSU Annis Water Resources Institute @gvsu-awri.bsky.social · Jul 24

AWRI's Education and Outreach team was in a GLOBE news article, showcasing a new "water tent" with hands-on learning supplies, which has already been visited by over 1,300 K-12 students at water festivals this summer! www.globe.gov/web/united-s...

www.globe.gov

GVSU Annis Water Resources Institute @gvsu-awri.bsky.social · Jul 23

AWRI summer interns have been hitting Pere Marquette beach with the Laker Raker BeBot drone! In addition to keeping microplastics out of our Great Lakes, interns will sort and catalogue litter for microplastics research. #Meijer #GLPCleanup #CGLRGreatLakes #PollutionProbe

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GVSU Annis Water Resources Institute @gvsu-awri.bsky.social · Jul 18

AWRI students, staff, and faculty hosted their friends and family for a summer potluck in Muskegon, including two sampling cruises on the #WGJackson! Thank you to everyone for your support!

GLOBE Community Poem - Celebrating 30 Years of GLOBE!

GVSU Annis Water Resources Institute @gvsu-awri.bsky.social · Jul 17

2/2 they're collecting data the same way grown-up scientists would, and that they're contributing to the expansion of scientific knowledge about our world through their observations. This community poem celebrates how GLOBE ignites curiosity and connection through science.🧪 youtu.be/_Ph37JSD3WE?...

YouTube video by GLOBE Implementation Office

youtu.be

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GVSU Annis Water Resources Institute @gvsu-awri.bsky.social · Jul 17

1/2 NASA’s GLOBE program is celebrating 30 years of impact, and GVSU has been a partner organization of GLOBE since 1998. We've seen time and time again how young students light up aboard the #WGJackson and #DJAngus when using GLOBE protocols, knowing that...

GLOBE Community Poem - Celebrating 30 Years of GLOBE!

YouTube video by GLOBE Implementation Office

youtu.be

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GVSU Annis Water Resources Institute @gvsu-awri.bsky.social · Jul 15

Dr. Ryan Otter and grad students Addison Plummer and Josie Kuhlman are featured in the new issue of GV Magazine! Instead of getting a snapshot of ecological health through single water samples, the lab collects nearby spiders that accumulate toxins over time. 🕷️🧪 www.gvsu.edu/gvmagazine/s...

Spider Sense

A tiny arachnid helps a GVSU research team track chemicals in Michigan's waterways

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GVSU Annis Water Resources Institute @gvsu-awri.bsky.social · Jul 14

We asked for your help naming Muskegon’s BeBot and the wait is finally over! Thanks to your ideas and generous support from #Meijer, our BeBot now has a name as strong as its mission. #GLPCleanup #CGLRGreatLakes #PollutionProbe

Could spider webs be the key in Michigan’s fight against forest threats?

GVSU Annis Water Resources Institute @gvsu-awri.bsky.social · Jul 11

Congratulations to #WoznickiLab grad student Jillian Greene for successfully defending her M.S. thesis "Assessing greenhouse gas emissions from Michigan’s drowned river mouths using in situ and remote sensing methods"! Read a summary of the work at gvsu.edu/wri. 🧪

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GVSU Annis Water Resources Institute @gvsu-awri.bsky.social · Jul 10

Dr. Charlyn Partridge @partridgecg.bsky.social and her lab are using a new method to sample environmental DNA - by collecting spider webs! Testing this summer has detected hemlock woolly adelgids and spongy moths, and could be expanded to other species in the future. 🧪

www.mlive.com/environment/...

Researchers at Grand Valley State University discovered spider webs effectively collect DNA from pests like hemlock woolly adelgid, potentially revolutionizing forest monitoring.

www.mlive.com

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GVSU Annis Water Resources Institute @gvsu-awri.bsky.social · Jul 7

AWRI Executive Director Dr. Stuart Jones is hiring an adjunct research technician. The position will emphasize questions focusing on regulation of lake primary productivity and water quality with a mix of field-, lab-, and office-based work. 🧪 gvsu.wd1.myworkdayjobs.com/careers/job/...

A researcher measuring a water sample in a graduated cylinder.

GVSU appoints Ryan Otter as interim vice provost for Research and Innovation

GVSU Annis Water Resources Institute @gvsu-awri.bsky.social · Jun 24

Congratulations to AWRI professor Dr. Ryan Otter for being appointed as interim vice provost for Research and Innovation! www.gvsu.edu/gvnext/2025/...

Otter joined GVSU in 2023 from Middle Tennessee State University, where he served as director of its Data Science Institute and held teaching and research responsibilities.

GVSU Annis Water Resources Institute @gvsu-awri.bsky.social · Jun 23

The W.G. Jackson will be visiting the Michigan Maritime Museum in South Haven later this week! Grab your tickets at michiganmaritimemuseum.org/events/ to tour the vessel or take a trip on Lake Michigan and test water quality as a citizen scientist!

GVSU Annis Water Resources Institute @gvsu-awri.bsky.social · Jun 13

Join AWRI's outreach program at the Macatawa Water Festival at Kollen Park on Saturday, July 12, from 10am-2pm for FREE fun for the whole family! outdoordiscovery.org/macatawa-wat...