Illinois-Indiana Sea Grant announces funding for five new research projects

Posted January 13th, 2020 in Aquaculture, Aquatic Invasive Species, Featured, Funded Research, Healthy Waters, News, Stormwater & Green Infrastructure
sand dunes and grass in the forefront, water of Lake Michigan in the background beyond the dunes

As part of its mission to serve the communities of southern Lake Michigan and beyond, Illinois-Indiana Sea Grant (IISG) funds innovative research. Starting next month, five researchers will lead new projects to learn more about green infrastructure, aquatic invasions, aquaculture, contaminants in fish, and shoreline erosion.

Green Infrastructure

Cities with heavy snowfall implement ways to make roads less slick, but this may come at a cost to water quality. Kimberly Van Meter of the University of Illinois at Chicago will study whether applying road salt near green infrastructure installations alters chloride levels in nearby surface and ground waters. She will conduct her research in different locations around the Chicago metropolitan area.

Aquatic Invasions

Many studies have looked at whether electricity or carbon dioxide can stop the spread of invasive Asian carp by creating barriers for the fish, but Reuben Keller of Loyola University Chicago will use funding to learn whether other species can be held back, too. He will focus on non-native invertebrates that make up the lower portions of the food web and have the potential to compete with native species or otherwise alter Great Lakes ecosystems. Learn more about aquatic invasive species.

Aquaculture

Sea Grant programs across the nation are funding aquaculture research with a goal of helping communities develop and maintain a safe and sustainable local seafood supply. Karolina Kwasek of Southern Illinois University Carbondale will develop protocols to improve growth of very young largemouth bass in aquaculture facilities, with a goal of making it easier to raise these and related fish.

Contaminants in Fish

Gary Lamberti of the University of Notre Dame will use funding to test wild caught fish collected from Lake Michigan and its tributaries for PFAS, a contaminant of emerging concern. He and his team will also refine a method for assessing which fish may be most likely to have high concentrations of PFAS in their tissues.

Shoreline Erosion

Finally, Cary Troy of Purdue University will be part of a multi-state, multi-Sea Grant program effort to study physical, hydrodynamic and social issues related to coastal erosion along Lake Michigan shorelines. The full research team will try to address a number of questions related to this timely issue, and will be supported by Illinois-Indiana Sea Grant, Wisconsin Sea Grant and Michigan Sea Grant.

To learn more about work that IISG funds, explore the research project database. If you are a potential principal investigator based in Illinois or Indiana, learn more about IISG funding opportunities. For more information, contact IISG Research Coordinator Carolyn Foley at cfoley@purdue.edu.

Illinois-Indiana Sea Grant is a part of University of Illinois Extension and Purdue Extension.

IISG Instagram

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.

There’s still time to register! Educators are invited to join the Great Lakes Region Place-Based Education Institute starting this February and dive into hands-on strategies that connect students with their communities and local environments. Don’t miss this powerful professional learning opportunity!

Learn more & register at the link in bio.

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Open post by ilinseagrant with ID 18063625076281979
There’s still time to register! Educators are invited to join the Great Lakes Region Place-Based Education Institute starting this February and dive into hands-on strategies that connect students with their communities and local environments. Don’t miss this powerful professional learning opportunity!Learn more & register at the link in bio.