For years I have been interested in what goes on in the diverse ecosystem that is the coastal area – where land and sea, saltwater and freshwater, people and plants and animals and microbes, meet and mix. So I enjoy carrying out research and analyzing data to increase our understanding and knowledge of such systems, whether it be Narragansett Bay, Narrow (Pettaquamscutt) River Estuary, New England coastal ponds, or other sites further away. My research interests include: • Understanding the role and regulation of various forms of nitrogen in coastal areas. • Examining the effects of eutrophication in coastal marine and estuarine ecosystems. • Measuring and assessing the significance of nitrification in estuarine and coastal systems and their watersheds. • Examining the effect of global climate variation on nitrogen cycling in estuaries, coasts, and watersheds. • Identifying sources of coliform bacteria to estuaries and coastal waters • Using ecological indicators to define conditions and detect trends in estuarine and coastal systems. • Improving inquiry-based science education (particularly ecology) for k-12 grades.