Illinois-Indiana Sea Grant’s two Lake Michigan real-time monitoring buoys know that they’re popular. And if you follow the Twitter account, @TwoYellowBuoys, they’ll tell you so.

Part of this popularity may be because the buoys are festive. In addition to decking themselves out for holidays.

4th of July

#Happy4th to all you #LakeMichigan lovers!!! pic.twitter.com/UgQ8QsAoRA

— Two Yellow Buoys (@TwoYellowBuoys) July 4, 2017

#PrinceDay

We buoys always party like it’s 1999. #PrinceDay pic.twitter.com/LUwRpfEPsw

— Two Yellow Buoys (@TwoYellowBuoys) June 7, 2017

Alternatives to Easter egg hunts.

Who needs eggs when you can play Find-The-Buoys-Going-To-The-Lake? Buoys all over the interstates these days. But not us. Yet. pic.twitter.com/qdvD88XSFF

— Two Yellow Buoys (@TwoYellowBuoys) April 13, 2017

Or maybe it’s because the buoys are clearly in love with science so they share interesting data patterns.

#dataoftheday #LakeMichigan thermocline around 40 ft near @MichCityLaPorte on #June24. About 67 F at surface. https://t.co/JFxg75UHGr pic.twitter.com/65IWSXNHwC

— Two Yellow Buoys (@TwoYellowBuoys) June 24, 2017

#dataoftheday 10-20 knot winds from the west mean 1 ft waves near @ETownLakeFront, 2-3 ft (or higher) near @MichCityLaPorte. Stay safe! pic.twitter.com/RkVyTfAk98

— Two Yellow Buoys (@TwoYellowBuoys) June 26, 2017

Here they introduce themselves to Bill Nye, the Science Guy.

Hi @BillNye! We’re real-time buoys collecting #LakeMichigan data. We’re kind of a big deal (in our sweet lab coats). #BillMeetScienceTwitter pic.twitter.com/4LIaZUR69M

— Two Yellow Buoys (@TwoYellowBuoys) May 23, 2017

The buoys’ hard work informing people about conditions in southern Lake Michigan was recognized with an APEX Award of Excellence for Social Media – Sites. This is the second IISG project to win a 2017 APEX Award. The buoys are proud to work alongside their Sea Grant colleagues, serving the people who live and recreate in southern Lake Michigan.

*The buoys would like to thank IISG Assistant Research Coordinator Carolyn Foley for managing their Twitter account. They also blame Carolyn for any mistakes made, because they’re buoys. It’s difficult to Tweet when you don’t have arms.

If you love the buoys, let them know!

When a 180-foot ship marked with the words “U.S. ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY” docks on the shores of one of the Great Lakes or their connecting channels, people take notice. The research vessel Lake Guardian has incited curiosity for over 25 years as it has carried scientists across all five Great Lakes to collect and analyze samples of water, aquatic life, sediments, and air.

Last year, IISG completed a project to answer frequently asked questions about the ship and to communicate the important work done on board to monitor and protect the world’s largest surface freshwater system.

Allison Neubauer, Joel Davenport, and Kristin TePas received an APEX Award of Excellence for the colorful display they created about the R/V Lake Guardian. Easily transported and exhibited from one port to the next, the display is made up of two large posters that use graphics and accessible language to communicate key facts about the ship, such as its size and berthing capacity, and provide a glimpse into the scientific sampling processes and Great Lakes research topics that the vessel facilitates.

Since making its debut last spring the display has proven to be a hit with people drawn to the ship. In particular, the eye-catching infographics designed by Davenport have been the subject of praise.

Nice infographic @LakeGuardian!#IAGLR2017 pic.twitter.com/oYGR8Jm9Y5

— Titus Seilheimer (@DrFishSG) May 18, 2017