Call for proposals: IISG's 2026 Seed Grant Research Competition is open. Up to $150,000 total for pilot studies on southern Lake Michigan. $10,000 to $50,000 per project, 50% match required. Applications due August 17, 2026. Info webinars July 2 and July 21. Details: iiseagrant.org/illinois-ind...

This month, 4-H youth joined us at Martell Forest to explore careers in natural resources! Over three days, participants created scent traps, dissected owl pellets, climbed trees, and went birding while learning about the many career paths available in natural resources.

Call for proposals: IISG's 2026 Seed Grant Research Competition is open. Up to $150,000 total for pilot studies on southern Lake Michigan. $10,000 to $50,000 per project, 50% match required. Applications due August 17, 2026. Info webinars July 2 and July 21. Details: iiseagrant.org/illinois-ind...

Add a Great Lakes twist to your summer reading! Discover stories inspired by our region with Great Lakes Great Reads. Check out reading lists perfect for beach days or quiet evenings. greatlakesgreatread.org

Real-time coastlines, real-world insights. Check out the LIVE feed of Lake Michigan at Indiana Dunes State Park Beach – supporting recreationalists, researchers, and the broader public, linked here: www.webcoos.org/cameras/indu...

Meet IISG Scholar Diana Alejandra Narvaez (Purdue) She is developing a soft material wave energy harvester for freshwater environments using WPU piezoresistive sensing and flexible piezoelectric elements embedded in 3D printed TPU structures. Full story: iiseagrant.org/meet-our-gra...

Science Sips is back in Evanston. 🌊 July 22 at Sketchbook Brewing: the engineering history of the Calumet and Chicago waterways from author Dick Lanyon, plus a Chicago River fish community update from Shedd Aquarium's Austin Happel. Details: www.facebook.com/share/18SoXc...

Good resource for educators: @NAAEE's Plastics eeResearch collection: 6 studies on plastic pollution education, covering PK through middle school. Goes beyond reduce/reuse/recycle into research-backed approaches for meaningful engagement. Free to access: eepro.naaee.org/community/re... 📷 NOAA

IISG Buoy Specialist Les Warren deployed the Wilmette & Chicago Lake Michigan buoys on Saturday providing real-time water temp, wave height, wind speed, & atmospheric data is back online & open to all. Michigan City coming soon. Wilmette: iiseagrant.org/wilmettebuoy/ Chicago: iiseagrant.org/45198/

May is Water Safety Month 🌊 Dangerous currents near Lake Michigan piers and breakwalls catch swimmers by surprise every year. The key move if caught: swim to the side, not against the current, then to shore. More Lake Michigan-specific safety resources: www.lakemichigansafety.org

📣 Call for proposals: the 2026 State of Lake Michigan Meeting (Nov. 4–6, Michigan City, IN) is accepting symposia and workshop submissions. If you have a timely Great Lakes topic worth a dedicated session, proposals are due June 1 at 1 PM ET. Submit: iiseagrant.org/solm

Happy Teacher Appreciation Week. 🍎 A genuine thank-you to every educator building Great Lakes literacy in their classroom! The students who learn to understand and value these waters will be the ones who protect them. We appreciate every thing you do, seen and unseen, appreciated and overlooked. ❤️

Recap: we talked trash about Chicago waterways at a brewery on Earth Day and it was genuinely great. Tim Hoellein (@loyolachicago.bsky.social) and Sarah Zack (IISG) shared what the research actually says about litter in Lake Michigan followed by Great Lakes trivia and great conversation.

Located in D.C., the Sea Grant Knauss Fellowship provides a unique educational and professional experience to graduate students who have an interest in ocean, coastal and Great Lakes resources, & in the national policy decisions affecting those resources. Learn more: iiseagrant.org/apply-now-fo...

Educators: IISG has 5 Great Lakes professional learning workshops this spring/summer: birds & watersheds, Project WET, coastal science, earth systems, & engineering design. PD hrs included. Hands-on throughout May 3, June 10, July 16, July 31–Aug 1, Aug 18 Register: iiseagrant.org/education/pr...

We took Great Lakes science to C2E2 in Chicago and used Subnautica to explain food webs, invasive species, and aquaponics to thousands of comic con attendees. Freshwater ecology is just as wild as surviving an alien ocean. 🌊🎮

Invasive Crayfish Collaborative lightning talks are coming up! Rapid-fire updates from researchers & managers on crayfish impacts, distribution, management & policy. 💻 Mon Apr 27 | 3pm ET: illinois.zoom.us/meeting/regi... 💻 Tue Apr 28 | 12pm ET: illinois.zoom.us/meeting/regi...

Did you know unused meds can end up in our lakes, rivers, and drinking water? This Saturday (April 25, 10am–2pm), safely dispose of them during National Prescription Drug Take Back Day. Find a drop-off site: unwantedmeds.org/how-to-dispose/find-a-drop-off-location

Happy Earth Day 🌎 Protecting our water starts with all of us. Every action, big or small, helps keep the Great Lakes healthy for the future.

Join the 2026 Great Lakes BioBlitz! Starting Earth Day, you are invited to help document biodiversity across the Great Lakes region using iNaturalist. A kick-off webinar is scheduled for April 16th at 2 pm CT. Learn more and get ready to explore: sites.google.com/wisc.edu/ann...

There’s still time to register!

Celebrate Earth Day with freshwater science and good conversation! 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!

Check out Me and Debry, a 30-min interactive play by Wisconsin Sea Grant that helps students explore litter in the Great Lakes and how to make a difference. Free scripts available in multiple languages! Learn more: www.seagrant.wisc.edu/our-work/foc... #TeachingTuesday

Meet IISG grad student scholar, Qianyu Zhao. Qianyu is a PhD student at U of I, focusing on understanding and reducing nutrient loss pollution. Learn more about Qianyu’s research: iiseagrant.org/meet-our-gra...

Located in D.C., the Sea Grant Knauss Fellowship provides a unique educational and professional experience to graduate students who have an interest in ocean, coastal and Great Lakes resources, & in the national policy decisions affecting those resources. Learn more iiseagrant.org/apply-now-fo...

Science is Survival at C2E2 2026! Catch us at the Chicago Comic & Entertainment Expo (March 27–29) as we explore the underwater world of Subnautica through the lens of Great Lakes science. Learn more about the event: www.c2e2.com

Don’t miss out! Join us for a deep dive into the latest Lake Michigan fisheries science. Learn more & register: purdue.ca1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_...

See how this year’s ice cover on Lake Michigan compares to past years with NOAA Great Lakes Environmental Research Laboratory data & borrow our Great Lakes Basin floor map to help students visualize the data. View the data: www.glerl.noaa.gov/data/ice/#hi...

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! 🧪🐟

Are you teaching about water quality this spring? Check out this series of short explainer videos on key water quality parameters! They’re perfect for helping students understand concepts like pH, conductivity, turbidity, & more. Explore the playlist: www.youtube.com/playlist?lis...

Now Available: Nature-Based Coastal Solutions in the Great Lakes Our 3-part video series explores how natural, hybrid & traditional approaches protect shorelines and strengthen coastal resilience. See real Great Lakes examples. Watch now: iiseagrant.org/work/coastal...

Don't miss the boat! Apply for a #LakeSuperior immersion by Feb. 28! 🌊 5-12th grade #GreatLakes educators are invited to spend a week aboard an EPA research vessel with scientists. Organized by the Center for Great Lakes Literacy, July 7-13, 2026. 🔗Apply today: z.umn.edu/mnsg_shipboa... #EduSky

Some partnerships just make sense. Happy Valentine’s Day from IISG! 💕

Still time to register! Educators are invited to join the Great Lakes Region Place-Based Education Institute starting this Feb and dive into hands-on strategies that connect students with their communities and local environments. Learn more & register: greatlakesstewardship.org/about-2/gl-r...

Congratulations to our IISG Knauss Fellowship finalists! We’re proud to announce Anupama Chandroth (Indiana University) and Laura Gray (University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign) as Illinois-Indiana Sea Grant’s finalists for the 2026 Sea Grant Knauss Fellowship. 🎉 iiseagrant.org/national-sea...

Ripple Effects includes 8 activities for grades 6–12 introducing students to aquatic invasive species in the Great Lakes through research, reporting, & role-playing. Students explore how invasives arrive, why they’re harmful, & their impacts. NGSS & Great Lakes Literacy aligned. 🔗 in bio for more

Graduate students: don’t miss your chance to advance your research and expand your professional network! The 2026 Illinois-Indiana Sea Grant Graduate Scholars Program is now open for applications. 👉 Read the full details: iiseagrant.org/its-time-to-...

Join us Sat, Feb 28th at the Friends of the Chicago River’s annual Student Congress at Northeastern Illinois University. We’re excited to attend this free, student-driven environmental conference where we will be leading the Great Plankton Race. www.chicagoriver.org/programs/edu...

✨ Start Your New Year with Great Lakes Learning! ✨ Kick off 2026 by exploring the Center for Great Lakes Literacy Resource Library. It’s your one-stop hub for lesson plans, activities, and tools to bring Great Lakes science into your teaching setting. 🌊 Dive in today: cgll.org/resource-lib...

Join us for a hands-on Project WET Make-and-Take Workshop. 💲 Cost: $25 (includes lunch) 🗓️ Registration ends Feb 26. ✅ 3rd–8th grade formal & informal educators ✅ Earn 6 PD hours ✅ Leave with ready-to-use water education kits aligned to Common Core & NGSS Learn more: iiseagrant.org/education/pr...

Register Now for HASTI 2026! The early bird registration rate expires tomorrow! ✅ Don’t miss this opportunity to connect with fellow educators and bring new tools to your classroom! 📅 Event Details & Registration: hasti.org/event-6248208

Managing aquaculture finances can be tough, but knowing what to track (and when to spend or save) is key. Join this webinar series for practical tips on farm finance management. All sessions at 12pm ET; recordings provided + posted on YouTube. Learn more: greatlakesaquaculture.org/aquaculture-...

Educators—this is for you! Unlock the potential of Great Lakes education with the latest issue of the Center for Great Lakes Literacy newsletter. Explore exciting opportunities like vessel-based learning, an aquaculture competition, and classroom-ready resources! conta.cc/3Y9zZld

This fall, our staff made a splash at the @ILSciTeaching Conference, @sheddaquarium Educators’ Conference, and the Place-Based Education Conference. Sign up for our Education Newsletter to follow us in 2026! iiseagrant.org/education/su... Photos by Michigan Sea Grant & Illinois-Indiana Sea Grant

🌊 Save the Date! 🌊 Shipboard Science Immersion 2026 Join the Center for Great Lakes Literacy aboard the R/V Lake Guardian on Lake Superior, July 7–14, 2026! ✅ Open to formal & nonformal educators (grades 5–12) across the Great Lakes region. 📅 Applications open Jan 2026 cgll.org/signature-pr...

Join the ICC for an exciting webinar featuring Dr. Chris Taylor from the Illinois Natural History Survey who will provide an overview of midwestern crayfish habitat requirements, feeding, reproductive biology, and life-history. Register for the webinar at InvasiveCrayfish.org/events1

This fall, our team took advantage of several opportunities to showcase our engaging educational programs at outreach events. One highlight included the Great Plankton Race, where participants built plankton models and tested various adaptations that help this vital part of the food web survive.

Tomorrow is the last day to register for our in-person seminar!

The 2025 issue of Illinois-Indiana Sea Grant’s magazine, The Helm, is now available! This annual publication is a collection of program research, outreach and education success stories, as well as ongoing activities to address coastal concerns. Dive in! iiseagrant.org/the-helm-mag...

This Halloween, we’re diving into the eerie depths of the Great Lakes who each have their own spooky story, like Lake Superior hides ghost ships beneath its icy waves... Never fear, we have resources to help you make these fascinating topics less frightening at iiseagrant.org/education.