Brandon Schroeder<schroe45@msu.edu>, Michigan Sea Grant, Michigan State University Extension –
Zoey Crossley worked with Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary and the NOAA Great Lakes Environmental Research Laboratory to study freshwater acidification in Lake Huron.
For Michigan State University student Zoey Crossley, a summer spent studying Lake Huron’s changing chemistry opened doors to new professional connections, career exploration, and opportunities to make a meaningful contribution to Great Lakes science. Through Michigan Sea Grant’s undergraduate internship program, Crossley contributed to ongoing scientific research on freshwater acidification in Lake Huron while expanding her skills in field research, science communication, and community engagement. She also expanded her professional network, inspired hundreds of learners, and explored potential career pathways in Great Lakes science and conservation biology.
Crossley was one of 13 undergraduate students selected for the 2026 Michigan Sea Grant Environmental Internship Program, which places students with nonprofits, government agencies, and other partners working on Great Lakes stewardship, research, education, and conservation initiatives. The program is designed to provide meaningful professional experiences while helping cultivate the next generation of Great Lakes scientists, educators, and resource managers. Learn more about MISG’s Internship Program online.
A conservation biology student from the MSU Department of Fisheries and Wildlife, Crossley spent the summer with NOAA’s Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary (TBNMS) in Alpena, Mich., studying freshwater acidification in Lake Huron. Working alongside researchers from NOAA’s Great Lakes Environmental Research Laboratory (GLERL), she collected water samples from coastal and offshore locations to help monitor pH, carbon dioxide concentrations, alkalinity, and other indicators of changing lake chemistry. The project contributes to a growing long-term dataset that helps scientists better understand how freshwater ecosystems may respond to acidification over time. This internship also fostered opportunities to connect Michigan Sea Grant’s research, outreach, and education mission with ongoing NOAA efforts, helping bridge scientific research with community engagement and learning opportunities across northeast Michigan.
Throughout the summer, Crossley balanced research with public outreach and education. She assisted with shipwreck tours and Science on a Sphere exhibit demonstrations, led conversations with visitors about freshwater acidification, helped teach students about marine debris, and shared her work with lifelong learners visiting the sanctuary. “As an intern with TBNMS I really felt like part of the team. I was able to collaborate with NOAA scientists and education specialists to make a meaningful impact on the science being done in my home state,” Crossley said.
Through these experiences, she gained confidence translating complex science for public audiences while helping connect people to Great Lakes stewardship. Dive deeper into Crossley’s full summer experience through her online summer internship blog. 
Michigan Sea Grant Extension educators in northeast Michigan helped broaden Crossley’s experience by connecting her to regional educational and conservation programming. One highlight was the Lake Huron Place-Based Education Summer Teacher Institute, hosted in Alpena through Michigan Sea Grant’s Center for Great Lakes Literacy and the Northeast Michigan Great Lakes Stewardship Initiative. Beyond exploring fisheries science and watershed studies, the Lake Huron Place-Based Education Summer Teacher Institute offered Crossley opportunity to grow her professional connections and deepen her exposure to fisheries science research through additional field experiences, including a hands-on opportunity to work alongside U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service biologists conducting brook trout surveys and stream habitat assessments.
Connecting youth with research
Crossley’s internship also created opportunities to contribute directly to Michigan Sea Grant outreach efforts. During the statewide 4-H Great Lakes and Natural Resources Camp held in northeast Michigan, she engaged youth participants aboard the Lady Michigan on Lake Huron in collecting water samples that supported her acidification project. Campers gained firsthand experience with authentic scientific research while learning how scientists monitor changes in Great Lakes ecosystems. For Crossley, it offered yet another opportunity to connect her research in meaningful ways through education and community engagement while contributing a meaningful watershed education experience and learning opportunity for the youth participating in this Michigan Sea Grant-sponsored science and leadership camp.
As Michigan Sea Grant’s 2026 internship cohort concludes its summer projects, Crossley’s story illustrates the lasting value of experiential learning. Beyond the data collected and skills gained, the internship provided access to mentors, professional networks, and real-world experiences that helped transform classroom learning into career exploration. “As I go into my senior year at Michigan State I feel well set up to graduate, leaning on the valuable experiences, connections, and friendships I gained throughout my internship,” she said.
For students interested in Great Lakes science, conservation, education, and outreach, the Michigan Sea Grant Environmental Internship Program offers a unique opportunity to build skills, make professional connections, and contribute to the stewardship of one of the world’s most important freshwater ecosystems.
Michigan Sea Grant is committed to research, education, and outreach through partnerships with people and organizations to foster healthy Great Lakes coastal ecosystems, communities, and economies. A collaborative effort of the University of Michigan and Michigan State University and its MSU Extension, Michigan Sea Grant is part of the NOAA-National Sea Grant network of 34 university-based programs.
This article was prepared by Michigan Sea Grant under award NA24OARX417C0157-T1-01 from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, U.S. Department of Commerce through the Regents of the University of Michigan. The statement, findings, conclusions, and recommendations are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the Department of Commerce, or the Regents of the University of Michigan.
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