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U.S. GLOBE Virtual Student Research Symposium Is a Wrap

May 16, 2025

The GLOBE U.S. Student Research Symposium (SRS) went virtual in 2025. From 5 to 9 May, middle and high school students from 21 schools shared their research with their peers and STEM professionals through recorded presentations and facilitated discussions. On Monday, 12 May, two elementary classrooms presented their research to each other and a STEM professional. This 3-minute video shows highlights from the SRS.

Typically, the SRS is held in-person regionally throughout the United States. GLOBE Partners host students from surrounding states and set an agenda centered around poster sessions. Other engagement activities are planned to practice GLOBE protocols or learn about the local environment, each other and supporting organizations. After deciding to cancel in-person events for this year, the GLOBE U.S. Coordination Office wanted to ensure that, as much as possible, the virtual SRS would follow a similar model with the goal to be an engaging experience.

One educator commented,

“Please accept my enormous gratitude and awe for the work that you do with so much joy, genuine care for the educational and scientific process, and for providing such a seamless and exciting venue for these young people to participate with confidence and enthusiastic support.”

The 2025 U.S. GLOBE Virtual SRS had 74 registered attendees, including 25 educators (and their classrooms) and 25 STEM professionals. Other attendees included U.S. GLOBE Partners and other community members. Over the six days of the SRS, attendees joined from 25 states.

a map of the United States shows the locations of student research symposium participants from 25 states
This map shows where SRS participants are located.

Leading up to the SRS, students conducted research in their local communities about topics important to them. They completed posters or slide decks, then recorded and submitted their presentations to the SRS. In all, the GLOBE U.S. Coordination Office received 41 student projects from 114 presenters.

students collect soil samples
Students from Skyline High School collect a soil sample for their research project.

The middle and high school SRS presentation days were held over 2 hours. Each day consisted of a welcoming, a career panel with STEM professionals, and student presentations in breakout rooms followed by comments and discussion with at least one STEM professional. Students were encouraged to ask questions of their peers about their research or provide feedback through awarding badges.

The badges included:

21st Century Skills
Research Process
Community Impact
Indigenous and community Knowledge
Use of GLOBE Protocols/Data

students sit in a a small space to tune into the student research symposium Students from Crestwood High School found a quiet spot to tune into the SRS!

STEM professionals asked each student research group questions about their projects. They provided critical and positive feedback and encouragement.

One SRS attendee wrote in a comment to a STEM professional,

Thank you for such wonderful feedback. You are so joyful and positive with the students. I could tell they were proud of their work as you were encouraging them and giving them ideas to grow on!”

During the elementary SRS day, two grade 3 classes heard from a STEM professional about his research and shared their research with each other. The STEM professional provided feedback and asked them questions. When asked what their favorite part of their project was, most students said, “going outside and observing nature.” The classrooms are following up by writing letters to each other with observations and questions about the projects.

students measure the circumference of a tree Students from Saint Rose Catholic School measure the circumference of a tree for their research project.

Thank you to the STEM professionals who took time to watch the student presentations ahead of time and provide thoughtful comments to the students, and for answering questions during a career panel to help students learn about the variety of STEM careers available. STEM professionals included: Dr. Barbie Buckner, Dr. Elizabeth Burakowski, Dr. Amy Chen, Dr. Herb Fynewever, Tim Hoheneder, Dr. Reggie Holifield, Dr. Gisella Lamas, Dr. Allison Leidner, Dr. Bri Lind, Cameron McKenzie, John McLaughlin, Brendan O’Connor, Sunday Olaniyan, Obinna Onyenahazi, Dr. Varun Paul, Dr. Alison Post, Angie Rizzi, Samuel Maniraj Selvaraj, Frankie Sullivan, and Tina White.

A STEM professional sent a message after the event that said, “I love with SRS, the positive focus of the event. There was a definite change in student confidence as they spoke in the discussion session. This SRS by far has been the coolest educational thing I have done this year.”

U.S. GLOBE Partners stepped up to the challenge to moderate the breakout sessions. These master multi-taskers played student videos, encouraged feedback, monitored the chat, and kept everyone on time. Thank you to our extraordinary moderators: Christina Catanese, Peter Falcon, Dr. Jodi Haney (moderated on 5 days!), Robin Lea, and Tracy Ostrom (moderated on 3 days!).

Each classroom received an engagement kit several days before the SRS began. The kits included peer review forms and highlighters, plus hands-on activities like Career Panel Bingo and Color-a-Pixel materials.

We’re grateful to the students and educators for contributing their research to the 2025 U.S. GLOBE Virtual Student Research Symposium!

One comment summed up how many of us felt: “These events are the best part of my week!”

students stand in a river in waders to collect water samples Students from Knik Charter School got into a river in waders during their research project.

Presentations by day

Monday, May 5

Isak and Binh, Skyline High School: “Testing filtered and unfiltered water at Skyline High School”
Elizabeth, Wooster City Schools: “Using Historical Idiomatic Expression to Solve Modern Maple Syrup Bacteria Contamination”
Collin, Zym, Sal, and Bree, APW Jr./Sr. High School: “Oswego & Onondaga County Water Quality”
Tanner, University Academy Longview: “Do Chemical Processing Plant Emissions Affect Local Water Quality?”
Alexa and Vivian, Fountain Hills Middle School: “A Short Study of Contrails Over the Sonoran Desert”
Stevie, Wooster City Schools: “A Novel Approach to Neutralize Cola”
Teya Brandes and Caydin Brandes, iLEAD Exploration Home School: “Utilizing GLOBE/NASA data to confirm the rising atmospheric temperatures resulting in increases in water vapor with consequently disastrous climate crises.”

Tuesday, May 6

Jameson, Lyra, and Josh, Knik Charter School: “Cottonwood Creek Water Quality Assessment”
Dunya, Reham, and Fatme, Crestwood High School: “Evaluating Hydrosphere Protocols in Correlation with Microplastic Levels in the Rouge River”
Fadl, Elissa, and Renee, Crestwood High School: “An Analysis of Autumn Cloud, Land, and Water Measurements at a Campus in Southeastern Michigan”
Litzy and Gabriela, Bishop Conaty-Our Lady of Loretto High School: “How does rainfall affect pH and dissolved oxygen levels of water sources”
Destiny, Zoe, Sasha, and Sofia, Hillcrest K–8: “Do Microplastics and pH Correlate?”
Megan, Jack, Ella, and Jaylah, Hillcrest K–8: “What’s up with our water?”
Shakari, Leo, Grayson, and Trustin, Hillcrest K–8: “The Effects of Toxins in Our School Water”
Greyson and Amara, International School of Texas: “Organism Movement Impacted by Rain and Temperature Change”

Wednesday, May 7

Mohamed, Adam, and Hussein, Crestwood High School: “Relationships Between Bat Activity and Select Atmospheric Parameters in Two Suburban Habitats”
Audrey and Lina, Skyline High School: “Tree pH and Water Retention”
Connor and Noah, Garrett High School: “Effects of Food Waste on the Biosphere (Phase I)”
Hazel, International School of Texas: “Temperature Correlation to Birdsong”
Henry, Audrey, Anna Beth, and Juanita, Saint Rose Catholic School: “How much carbon is stored in the trees on campus?”
Emmy and Styles, International School of Texas: “Impact of Soil pH and Surface Temperature on Tree Health and Growth”
Luke, AJ, Santiago, Mary Kate, Grace, and Sophie, Saint Rose Catholic School: “How does the quality of the Maumee River water change from fall to spring?”

Thursday, May 8

Taiyibah, Henry, and Wren, Melvindale Northern Allen Park Schools: “Carbon Dioxide Absorption in Plants”
Nathaniel and Andrew, Skyline High School: “How does fire effect the soil's fertility levels?”
Darla and Michelle, Bishop Conaty-Our Lady of Loretto High School: “Seasonal patterns”
Dallas, Andrik, and Roger, UT Tyler University Academy Tyler: “Trees and their impact on carbon storage and surface temperature, a comparative study”
Caitlyn and Brianna, Bishop Conaty-Our Lady of Loretto High School: “Effects on Cloud Formation from Extreme Aerosols and Heat”
Michael, Chavez, and Rafael, Skyline High School: “Polarity and Nutrients”
Woodrow and Aspen, Skyline High School: “Albinism's effect on soil: Coast Redwood”
Isabella and Malia, The Wardlaw Hartridge School: “Urban Heat Island”
Aanya, Sanjana, and Samyak, The Wardlaw Hartridge School: “Solar Wave Lengths & Their Effect on Pollution in Edison, NJ”
Ellie and Gracie, Saint Rose Catholic School: “How does air temperature in Ohio change from 1996 to 2024?”

Friday, May 9

Kayla and Tahlia, Skyline High School: “Water Quality Throughout Sausal Creek”
Melissa, Mathew, and Hassan, UT Tyler University Academy Tyler: “Uncovering Environmental Nontuberculous Mycobacteria of Respiratory Significance in Northeast Texas”
Eva H, Eva M, Danica, Sami, Kaitlyn, and Evan, All Saints Episcopal School: “Assessing Local Water Quality Indicators Through Macroinvertebrate Diversity and Pollution Indicators”
Alejandra, Aaron, Johann, and Gabriel, Early College T-STEM & STEM Academy: “Soil Respiration and Compaction: Trampling Effects in Discovery and Prairie Loop”
Niko, Skyline High School: “The Cooling Power of Trees”
Kimberly, Mirabella, Madeline, Soledad, and Corryn, Skyline High School: “Soil Nutrient Levels Lab”
Natalie, Brooke, Diya, and Chinenye, UT Tyler University Academy Palestine: “Correlation of Soil Nutrients to the Presence of Non-Tuberculosis Mycobacteria (NTM)”

Monday, May 12

Hawkins STEMM Academy: “How does the new asphalt path near the prairie contribute to the Urban Heat Island Effect?”
Mast Way Elementary: “Cloud Observations”

The 2025 Virtual SRS was organized and hosted by the GLOBE U.S. Coordination Office, based at the Leitzel Center at the University of New Hampshire and funded by NASA (Grant no. 80NSSC25M7054).

News origin: United States of America

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