This article was developed from an Illinois-Indiana Sea Grant article and video.
Susan Daniel, research scientist, was one of several scientists who met virtually with students from three classrooms this spring as a part of Illinois-Indiana Sea Grant’s Scientists to Students (S2S) program. Normally, this program connects students to scientists aboard the EPA research vessel Lake Guardian, but due to COVID-19, changes had to be made. Some of the interactions were prerecorded messages, while others were live events connecting students and scientists directly in their own homes. Students had the opportunity to ask questions and receive answers. The teachers involved were all a part of IISG’s Shipboard Science program at some point in the past, where they went for a workshop aboard the Lake Guardian, and now teach Great Lakes issues as part of their curricula.
“I was 19 years old. I never even knew any of this stuff existed. I didn’t know I could be a scientist. I thought that was something way beyond what I could be,” said Susan Daniel. “When these students come and ask good questions and really remind you what you’re doing is important, it lights that fire in your belly for a couple more months—to really have that drive to do research, and do it well.”
