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GLOBE United States: Mississippi Classroom Participates in Scientific Research Through GLOBE Protocols

Jun 26, 2025

Person smiling. Angela Lee, a GLOBE educator from Bayou View Middle School, Gulfport, Mississippi, first got involved with GLOBE in 2020 when she attended a workshop led by GLOBE partner Donna Torres, INFINITY Science Center. Angela learned how to use scientific equipment and received resources to use in her eighth-grade science classroom to support her students as they collect and record environmental data.

Since then, her students have participated in the U.S. GLOBE Regional Student Research Symposium (SRS), the International Virtual Science Symposium (IVSS), and the GLOBE Annual Meeting, and have had many other opportunities to share their GLOBE research with their community.

Student Research Process

Angela starts each school year by introducing her students to an environmental research project that they will develop over the school year. The students learn about issues affecting their local environment and choose a topic of interest to focus their research on. They generate a list of questions they want to explore further.

Student talking during share-a-thon.

Angela Lee’s student Lauren at the Annual Meeting student share-a-thon at the 2024 GLOBE Annual Meeting.

Students are given weekly class time to work toward specific research goals. They form small groups that rotate responsibilities for collecting data, including using GLOBE protocols. They collect data collaboratively, which sometimes requires scheduling weekend or school break meetups. Often, the research groups can use the collected data for more than one project. As part of their research process, students are encouraged to interview scientists or anyone knowledgeable about their topic.

By November or December, most students have gathered enough information to participate in competitions such as the National Geographic Slingshot Challenge, the regional science fair, and Celebrate the Gulf.

Once their projects are complete, they create presentation posters and share their findings during a school-wide science symposium, where families and members of the community are invited to celebrate their work.

Communicating Research Results

Through their use of GLOBE, Angela’s students have had several valuable opportunities to engage in real-world scientific experiences. In 2024, a group of students participated in the regional SRS at the INFINITY Science Center, where their project, Pearl River Pollution, was recognized for its use of community knowledge. Through this project, students used salinity, dissolved oxygen, and nitrate testing protocols to investigate the level of pollution in the Pearl River, a major river marking the lower part of the border between Mississippi and Louisiana.

Student sharing research with poster in the background.

Angela Lee’s students Kylie and Lauren (at right) sharing their research poster at the 2024 GLOBE Annual Meeting.

During the testing period, the river’s nitrate levels were high on three occasions. Unfortunately, students were unable to continue monitoring the river and decided to focus on river data from the Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality. They reached out to the local Pearl River Keeper to help them understand the data. These additional data and their interview helped students conclude that the Pearl River is polluted to a point of concern. These student scientists were invited to take part in the Student Experience at the GLOBE Annual Meeting in Fredonia, New York. Read the full student research report.

Three students standing by poster displaying their research.

Angela Lee’s students Kylie, Lauren, and Jaden in front of their project poster at the 2024 Southeast Regional Student Research Symposium.

This year, Angela partnered with the Walter Anderson Museum and National Geographic, through which students had the opportunity to create 1-minute films showcasing their research. They met with representatives from National Geographic to discuss their projects and research process.

Additionally, all of Angela’s students participated in the Celebrate the Gulf science symposium. One group was selected for special recognition and awarded $200 for their research on an invasive species.

Thanks to their involvement with GLOBE and the depth of their research experience, some students were also invited to participate in a program typically reserved for high school students. Through this opportunity, they were able to continue their research and earn college credit via the Mapping Justice program.

A Message from Angela about GLOBE

GLOBE is important to me because it provides real-life, meaningful opportunities to students who might not otherwise have access to them. It not only opens doors to scientific exploration but also fosters a genuine love for science.

One of the most powerful moments this year came from a student who said, “I didn't think there was any value in attending school, but this project has changed my mind.” That statement alone speaks to the transformative impact GLOBE can have on students’ perspectives, engagement, and future aspirations.

Angela’s students have uploaded the following student research reports to GLOBE.gov: