Dr. Robinson “Wally” Fulweiler was featured in The Brink for oyster-environmental research in her mobile laboratory with research technician Drew Bouchie (CAS’ 24). The van her family helped turn into a research laboratory is named the Public Engagement and Aquatic Research Lab (PEARL). Equipped with a solar paneled roof and all necessary appliances, the PEARL has made its way to different points along the Northeast Coast sampling oyster, water, and sediment for analysis.
Oysters act as natural water filters for pollutants like nitrogen, which makes its way into marine ecosystems from agricultural runoff and wastewater. The lab measures denitrification in cylinders, or “cores,” containing farmed oysters, and collected water and sediment samples. With this data, PEARL aims to investigate the nitrogen cycling budget of coastal communities.
Community collaboration and interest has been a major feature to the PEARL. Fulweiler and Bouchie work with local water quality managers and specialists, and also leave the back of the van open for community members to stop by and ask about their research. Bouchie, who now leads research with the PEARL, told The Brink, “Making our lab visible to the public makes our work important, even before we have results or analyze the data. It’s fulfilling already.”
The team will carry on with their research into next summer, and hopes to expand further along the coast.
Read The Brink article here