Dr. Steven Johnson Selected for ACS Science Coaches Program

Dr. Steven Johnson has been selected to participate in the American Chemical Society Sciences Coaches program. This year he will work with Sara Sholten from James T. Jones elementary school in Gladstone, MI and Mari Sirk from Sault Area High School. The ACS Science Coaches Program pairs volunteer chemists with K–12 teachers to bring real-world chemistry into the classroom through hands-on activities, mentoring, and classroom support. Together, they inspire students' interest in science while strengthening chemistry education through year-long school partnerships.

St. John Takes the Stage at Michigan Shakespeare Festival

This summer, Assistant Professor Adam St. John performed in three productions with the Michigan Shakespeare Festival. The performances took place at the Hillberry Gateway Theatre in Detroit. Prof. St. John portrayed the roles of Lord Stanley in "Richard III", Friar Francis in "Much Ado about Nothing" (picture to the right), and Squire Sullen in "The Beaux' Stratagem."

CFRE Student Researchers Complete Lake Michigan Sampling Efforts

In early July, student research technicians at CFRE (Frankie Albrough, Ethan Byrum, Brenden Conger, Eli Herriman, and AJ Pircochta) concluded their sampling efforts for larval Lake Whitefish and zooplankton along the northern shore of Lake Michigan. The student technicians are continuing this research by processing the zooplankton and larval fish samples collected. This research has been conducted in collaboration with the United States Geological Survey (USGS) as part of the Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Units (CESU).

CFRE’s Nmé (Lake Sturgeon) sampling crew started their 2026 field season by assisting the Bay Mills Indian Community and Garden River First Nation with an effort to capture Nmé near the Garden River mouth. The goal was to capture fish and surgically implant acoustic transmitters, and the LSSU crew happened to catch one of its smallest Nmé ever.

CFRE Students Assess Great Lakes Coastal Wetland Health

CFRE student research technicians Anthony Savoie, James Laperriere, and Hunter McMahon have been sampling Great Lakes coastal wetlands in the Eastern Upper Peninsula over the last month. This project helps assess health of wetlands connected to the Great Lakes by surveying for fish and macroinvertebrate communities, while also monitoring water quality

Dr. Toni Stith traveled to Bengalore, India, to culminate a years’ worth of work training teachers in STEM education. She facilitated a STEM showcase, where the teachers presented their progress on STEM education, and awarded certificates. She partnered with the Param Science Experience Centre and the Param Foundation in this work. She also discussed educational issues with the principal at the Jaipol Garodia Rashtrotthana Vidya Kendra School in Bengalore, India, and toured the facility. She was able to identify many similarities and differences in the school systems of India and the United States.