Four Illinois and Indiana educators will set sail on Lake Michigan aboard EPA’s research ship

Posted June 13th, 2025 in Featured, Great Lakes Data, K-12 Education, News
EPA vessel Lake Guardian awaits Shipboard Science Immersion educators

Illinois Indiana Sea Grant is pleased to announce that four middle and high school science educators—three from Illinois and one from Indiana—have been invited to join the Shipboard Science Immersion, where they’ll join the Center for Great Lakes Literacy (CGLL) team and Great Lakes scientists to work aboard an EPA research vessel July 7–13, 2025.  

Through a partnership with the EPA Great Lakes National Program Office and NOAA, and with funding from the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative, the educators will spend a full week alongside researchers aboard the EPA R/V Lake Guardian. Afterwards, they will bring Great Lakes science back to their classrooms. 

The Illinois and Indiana-based educators are:

  • Gerard Kovach is a science teacher at Decatur Classical School in Chicago. Kovach, who was recently named Educator of the Year by Friends of the Chicago River, leads middle school students in ongoing ecological research tied to local waterways, including the Chicago River and Lake Michigan.
  • Ryan Johnson is a 7–8 grade science teacher at Jovita Idár Elementary School in Chicago where he incorporates hydroponics, aquaponic and community-based environmental action projects into his curriculum.
  • Amy Truemper is a 7–8 grade science teacher at Bednarcik Junior High School in Oswego, Illinois. Truemper leads her school’s award-winning environmental club, coordinates water quality testing along the Fox River and incorporates programs like Trout in the Classroom and Shedd Aquarium’s stewardship partnerships into her curriculum. 
  • Eric Parr is a 10-12 grade earth and space science teacher at Pike High School in Indianapolis, Indiana. Parr engages students in hands-on water quality testing and ecological studies at the school’s outdoor lab. He also supports astronomy instruction through the school’s planetarium and recently led a NASA-supported solar telescope project during the 2024 eclipse.

Overall, fifteen educators from across the Great Lakes were selected to work aboard the Lake Guardian. The Shipboard Science Immersion promotes Great Lakes sciences while forging lasting relationships between researchers and educators in the region. Hosts for the Lake Michigan expedition are CGLL partners Illinois-Indiana Sea Grant and Wisconsin Sea Grant.

CGLL is a collaborative effort led by Great Lakes Sea Grant program educators. CGLL fosters informed and responsible decisions that advance basin-wide stewardship by providing hands-on experiences, educational resources and networking opportunities promoting Great Lakes literacy among an engaged community of educators, scientists and youth.

For more information on the 2025 Shipboard Science Immersion visit the Center for Great Lakes Literacy website.

 

 

 

 

 

 

IISG Instagram

This February marks a major milestone: 30 years of aquatic invasive species outreach by our team! To celebrate, IISG Director, Stuart Carlton, and Strategic Communication Coordinator, Renie Miles, sat down for a Sea Grant Chat with two key figures in IISG’s AIS history: Pat Charlebois, our assistant director and program leader, who spent over two decades leading our prevention efforts, and Katie O’Reilly, who took over that role in 2022. We discussed the evolution of the invasive species issue in the Great Lakes, the shift toward understanding human behavior, and the creative strategies that make this team so effective.

Dive into the full interview at the link in bio.

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Open post by ilinseagrant with ID 18053780390453750
This February marks a major milestone: 30 years of aquatic invasive species outreach by our team! To celebrate, IISG Director, Stuart Carlton, and Strategic Communication Coordinator, Renie Miles, sat down for a Sea Grant Chat with two key figures in IISG’s AIS history: Pat Charlebois, our assistant director and program leader, who spent over two decades leading our prevention efforts, and Katie O’Reilly, who took over that role in 2022. We discussed the evolution of the invasive species issue in the Great Lakes, the shift toward understanding human behavior, and the creative strategies that make this team so effective. Dive into the full interview at the link in bio.

Introducing the Lake Michigan Explorer!
Start exploring the varied factors that impact the Great Lakes with our Explorer Series. This searchable database of external resources can help you find hands-on activities that spark curiosity and inspire action.

✨ What’s inside?
Lesson plans, fact sheets, and reading materials
Engaging videos and visualizations
Easy-to-use filters by grade level, topic, and time.
Perfect for classrooms and informal learning, this resource empowers students to become stewards of the Great Lakes.

🔗 in bio for more.

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Open post by ilinseagrant with ID 17993556791875462
Introducing the Lake Michigan Explorer! Start exploring the varied factors that impact the Great Lakes with our Explorer Series. This searchable database of external resources can help you find hands-on activities that spark curiosity and inspire action. ✨ What’s inside?Lesson plans, fact sheets, and reading materialsEngaging videos and visualizationsEasy-to-use filters by grade level, topic, and time.Perfect for classrooms and informal learning, this resource empowers students to become stewards of the Great Lakes.🔗 in bio for more.

Join is in welcoming our new research and reporting coordinator, Laura Esman, to the team! In her new role, Laura will oversee research competitions and manage IISG’s research portfolio. She will also spearhead IISG data collection and lead the program’s annual reporting process.

Esman brings over 30 years of experience in research, project coordination and grant administration. Her most recent positions include managing director of the Indiana Water Resources Research Center, and lab manager and research associate in the Natural Resources Social Science Lab in Purdue’s Department of Forestry and Natural Resources.

Full story at the link in bio.

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Open post by ilinseagrant with ID 17847944430638356
Join is in welcoming our new research and reporting coordinator, Laura Esman, to the team! In her new role, Laura will oversee research competitions and manage IISG’s research portfolio. She will also spearhead IISG data collection and lead the program’s annual reporting process.Esman brings over 30 years of experience in research, project coordination and grant administration. Her most recent positions include managing director of the Indiana Water Resources Research Center, and lab manager and research associate in the Natural Resources Social Science Lab in Purdue’s Department of Forestry and Natural Resources.Full story at the link in bio.