Meet the Team
Principal Investigator : Dr. Mary Martin is a Research
Assistant Professor at the University of New Hampshire. She
has a PhD in Natural Resources and is a specialist in botany
and remote sensing as a means of mapping forest growth and
species composition. Her research interests include the use
of hyperspectral remote sensing data for the determination
of forest productivity, nutrient cycling, and species
classification. In addition, Mary works on projects that
involve the development of hyperspectral methods to detect
forest health and insect infestation, and the development of
an online foliar chemistry database which compiles data from
multiple research efforts.
Co-Investigator:
Dr. Lara Gengarelly is a Lecturer in the Department
of Education at the University of New Hampshire. She has a
PhD in Plant Biology and is a specialist in plant ecology
and botany. She also has extensive background in science
education. Lara has taught science in both middle and high
schools. Most recently she teaches education courses and
supervises pre-service teachers. Her research interests
include inquiry-based science teaching and learning, STEM
learning for English language learners, and collaborative
learning models. Lara has worked on science education
projects that involve partnerships between scientists and
secondary school teachers, such as the UNH-GK-12 project and
the GLOBE Carbon Cycle Project. Lara has provided
professional development for teachers and designed
curriculum for the Student Climate Data NICE project.
Co-Investigator:
Dr. Annette Schloss is a research Scientist at the
University of New Hampshire. Her research specialties
include Earth science education and outreach through
web-based resources and aquatic ecosystems, including remote
sensing of freshwater resources. Annette has worked for many
years with citizen science programs and is the co-leader of
both the Digital Earth Network (DEW) and the Picture Post
network. She has a PhD in Zoology from the University
of New Hampshire.
Co-Investigator: Dr. Scott Ollinger is a Professor
at the University of New Hampshire with research interests
in forest ecology, carbon and nutrient cycling, and effects
of climate change and air pollution on ecosystems. His work
involves a combination of field studies, remote sensing and
ecological modeling at local to continental scales. Scott is
an investigator with the North American Carbon Program, and
is on the Board of Directors for the National Ecological
Observatory Network (NEON), the science study group for
NASA's HyspIRI mission, and the Steering Committee of the
Northeastern States Research Cooperative.
Senior Personnel: Erik Froburg is a graduate of the
UNH Masters in Environmental Education program and is a
former middle school teacher. He is interested in
promoting authentic research by students, and in providing
schools with more direct access to scientists and
contemporary research in the geo-sciences. Erik works for
the Joan and James Leitzel Center at UNH, through the
Transforming Earth System Science Education (TESSE) program.
Senior Personnel: Haley Wicklein has
a BA in Biology from Earlham College and an MS in Natural
Resources from the University of New Hampshire. Her
Master's research focused on the relationship between foliar
chemistry and ecosystem processes. Haley has taught science
and environmental education at elementary and middle school
levels, and been a research fellow with the NASA Goddard
Space Flight Center.