Breathe Providence is a project monitoring concentrations of carbon monoxide (CO), carbon dioxide (CO₂), nitrogen oxides (NOₓ), ozone (O₃), and particulate matter (PM₂.₅), alongside meteorological conditions in Providence, RI. The project is lead by Professor Meredith Hastings, and works closely with community groups and government stakeholders to develop an unprecedented understanding of air quality across the city. This summer, four undergraduate researchers joined Breathe Providence for their summer research projects. 

One group of students spent their summer investigating the water quality and supporting environmental research right here in Providence. Lead by Shailja Gangrade, a Postdoctoral Research Associate with the Equitable Climate Futures initiative, five undergraduates helped to test the water quality along the public shoreline of Narragansett Bay. 

“We are interested in the intersection between water, air, and soil quality – and what the implications of industrial contaminants are on the aquatic ecosystem of the upper Narragansett Bay," Gangrade explained. "We have conducted workshops through our WaterSpeak community science program, in which Providence residents have described seeing drastic changes –during their lifetimes– in odors, clarity, and fish availability of waters surrounding the Port of Providence and India Point Park." 

Gargrade continued, “Many community members have found the unpleasant odors and the lack of crabs and fish to have transformed the places they once used to frequent for recreation. As Providence residents ourselves, we often share the sentiment of never wanting to swim in the waters surrounding our city. But what would make these waters swimmable? What does it take to improve water quality, such that abundant fish return? We hope our data can help provide some preliminary insights to these questions.” 

“We particularly aim to provide information about what is in the water and what sorts of patterns arise in water chemistry and microbial composition, particularly after precipitation events. So far, we have detected anomalous biological conditions after high-precipitation events, and we have observed waters in the Providence River with known petrochemical contamination to have starkly distinct water chemistry than surrounding waters. This project has been incredibly rewarding already, as our measurements have been validating community member concerns and provide us with information that can influence environmental management, fishing, and public health policies.” 

LunaSCOPE (Lunar Structure, COmposition and Processes for Exploration) is an international, multidisciplinary NASA SSERVI node lead by Brown University researchers working to advance our understanding of the Moon's origin, evolution and composition, while paving the way for future human exploration and utilization. Several students joined LunaSCOPE for their summer research this year.