Ever wondered what it actually looks like as samples are collected from the floor of Lake Michigan?  A science teacher from Elk Grove High School in Illinois got to the bottom of it for you.
When it came time to lower the multi-corer and hydraulic extruders, Quinn Loch strapped on a GoPro video camera to go for the 158-meter ride to the bottom.
 
Loch, along with 14 other educators, is working with 4 scientists as a part of the Shipboard Science Workshop aboard the U.S. EPA R/V Lake Guardian.
 
The cores will be used to study dissolved oxygen and phosphorous levels in the water just above the cores.
 
The educators and scientists stand on the dock in Manitowoc, Wis.
Be sure to follow the educators on twitter at #lakeguardian and on the Teacher Features page on the CGLL website
 

They will continue tweeting and blogging until the trip’s conclusion on July 18.

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Celebrate Earth Day with freshwater science and good conversation! Join Illinois-Indiana Sea Grant, the Northwestern Center for Water, Loyola University researcher Tim Hoellein, and IISG’s Sarah Zack for Science Sips: Trash Talk about Chicago Waterways. Learn what research reveals about litter and trash in Lake Michigan and Chicago waterways and what we can do to help.Plus, enjoy Great Lakes trivia games!📅 April 22, 2026⏰ 7–9 PM📍 Sketchbook Brewing Company, Evanston Tap RoomCome curious and ready to test your Great Lakes knowledge!
Find us at Chicago Comic & Entertainment Expo, March 27–29! We’re linking Subnautica with Great Lakes science through fun, hands‑on activities about food webs, invasive species, and aquaponics.Come geek out with us! 🔗 in bio for event info
Coastal protection is not limited to concrete, rocks, and steel. Coastal protection solutions exist on a spectrum, ranging from softer “green” solutions to harder “gray” structures.Nature-based coastal solutions fall between green and gray techniques, providing multiple benefits to people and habitats.Our three-part video series, Nature-Based Coastal Solutions in the Great Lakes, is now available to watch. Learn how nature-based coastal solutions, including nature-driven and hybrid approaches, can protect shorelines while supporting ecosystems and communities.Watch the 3-part video series at the link in bio.(Photo credit: Liz Spitzer, Illinois State Geological Survey, Coastal Research Group)