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Innovative Research on EPA’s R/V Lake Guardian

Release Date: 07/20/2011
Contact Information: Mick Hans (Media Inquiries) Hans.mick@epa.gov 312-353-5050 Maggie Sauerhage (All Other Inquiries) sauerhage.maggie@epa.gov 202-564-3341 Melissa Anley-Mills (All Other Inquiries) anley-mills.melissa@epa.gov 202-564-5179

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 20, 2011

Innovative Research on EPA’s R/V Lake Guardian

Duluth, MN - Beginning today and continuing through July 27, 2011, a collaboration between the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Centers for Ocean Sciences Education Excellence (COSEE) Great Lakes, and the Great Lakes Sea Grant Network will be conducting an educator workshop in Duluth, Minn. Fifteen educators from the Great Lakes area will work with researchers aboard EPA’s R/V Lake Guardian research vessel. The educators and researchers will explore the science of Lake Superior and share their findings through daily blogs, web content, podcasts and facts tweeted on the EPA website. Also, an interactive mailbag will allow the public to ask the experts and educators onboard R/V Lake Guardian questions about their work and Great Lakes science.

“This workshop is a perfect example of how EPA recognizes that the environmental scientists and engineers of tomorrow are often inspired by a great teacher," said Dr. Paul T. Anastas, EPA Science Advisor. "By giving educators a unique experience gathering data and learning about Great Lakes science and oceanography, we hope to give them the tools necessary to provide that scientific inspiration to their students.”

The workshop will provide data necessary for EPA researchers to evaluate efforts to improve nearshore water quality and examine how human land use influences coastal water quality. EPA and its partners will be working around the clock, collecting water samples and aquatic organisms from points along Lake Superior to evaluate the lake’s health. This survey is part of an international research program that provides data that is vital to understanding the health of the Lake Superior environment and of the fish and other organisms that live in it.

To view life aboard EPA’s research vessel, and the work done by scientists to protect the world’s largest freshwater lake by surface area, join the research expedition online and learn first-hand about the science of Lake Superior.

More information on the workshop: https://www.epa.gov/research/scievents/lakesci11
More information on the daily blog: www.epa.gov/blog
More information on submitting a question: https://www.epa.gov/research/scievents/lakesci11/mailbag.htm
More information on Twitter: www.twitter.com/EPAresearch
More information on COSEE Great Lakes: http://coseegreatlakes.net/