About Sam Norton

Sam Norton is a senior at Miami University majoring in Biology with an Environmental Science co-major and a Journalism minor. He is the editor of the Opinion section and the Environment section at his school's paper, The Miami Student, and he has won both state and regional student journalist awards for his stories. He has written for the Environmental Monitor since January 2023 and enjoys learning and writing about incredible environmental research across the country. In his free time, he enjoys hiking, climbing, watching soccer, and planning his next adventure.

Articles By Sam Norton

Fish and Wildlife Technician Dustin Dominesey in bow and Fish and Wildlife Technician Adam Kosnick in back of boat conducting a reclamation on Murphy Lake in Adirondack Park in 2021

Fish Science

Reintroducing Historically Native Fish in America’s Largest Wilderness

Among the dozens of publicly protected national parks, hundreds of wilderness areas, and thousands of state parks in the contiguous U.S., none are larger than the Adirondack Park, a 6 million-acre wilderness area that spreads across upstate New York.  With 3,000 lakes and ponds and 30,000 miles of rivers...

  • Posted September 16, 2024
The Sandusky Fisheries Research Station records temperature and dissolved oxygen profiles during monthly bottom trawl surveys on Lake Erie

Earth

From Assessment to Angler: Continual Research Ensures Lake Erie Remains a Beacon of Freshwater Fishing

Lake Erie is well known for its abundant recreational fishing. Anglers come from across the country to try their luck at the “walleye capital of the world” and search for other freshwater species, such as bass, perch, and steelhead trout.  As one of the world’s largest freshwater fisheries, much...

  • Posted July 8, 2024
Solar Eclipse Viewing Event

Earth

Soundscapes of the Solar Eclipse: Citizen Science Supporting National Research

On April 8, 2024, millions of people around the world had their eyes glued to the sky to witness a historic cosmic event. The total solar eclipse captured the headlines and the minds of many who became eager to gaze at the heavens as the sky went dark for...

  • Posted May 27, 2024
Porters must carry the ice cores down from the drill site after the drilling is finished.

Earth

Collecting Data at the Top of the World: How Scientists Retrieve Glacial Ice Cores

A helicopter touches down in the small town of Sicuani, Peru, at an elevation of 11,644 feet. Earlier that day, a boxcar brought fuel, drills, food, and other equipment for a glacial expedition. The year is 1979, and glaciologist Lonnie Thompson is preparing to lead a team to the...

  • Posted March 18, 2024

Earth

Duality of Science: The Importance of Science Communication for Promoting Change

Renowned marine ecologist James W. Porter explains why he sees science communication as a critical component of his long career.

  • Posted January 29, 2024
The work of University of Hawai’i employees helps inform regulatory decisions from state health and water agencies about the safety of residential drinking water.

Earth

Maui Scientists Offer Water Quality Testing in Wake of Wildfires

On August 8th, 2023, news broke of wildfires ravaging the island of Maui, Hawai’i. In the following days, news of four separate fires broke. Wildfires raged in the historic Lahaina village on the western side of Maui to those that burned in the mountainous region in the center of...

  • Posted December 11, 2023
EXO2 sonde installation in a discharge channel using a 3-point anchor system.

Earth

Choosing the Right Water Quality Monitoring Systems Is Crucial for Stantec Inc.

Data is king when it comes to water quality monitoring, and Stantec Inc. is committed to providing consistent quality data in real-time.

  • Posted September 11, 2023
Moore Haven RECON station, with NexSens X2 datalogger and SP-15 power pack.

Earth

Protecting the Caloosahatchee Estuary: Marine Water Quality Systems in Southwest Florida

The Sanibel-Captiva Conservation Foundation is dedicated to monitoring the impact of inland water flow to the Caloosahatchee Estuary.

  • Posted August 21, 2023
PhD candidate Nicole Berry measures water transparency using an underwater radiometer. The offshore regions of Lakes Michigan and Huron are increasing in water transparency. This may expose the early life stages of fish to damaging ultraviolet radiation.

Earth

Crystal Clear Problems: Impacts of Water Transparency in Aquatic Ecosystems

From crystal clear alpine lakes to muddy rivers and boggy swamps, water transparency is an easily observable water quality parameter to anyone who takes a few moments to peer into the (sometimes) murky depths. Water transparency varies dramatically based on the location of bodies of water among different watershed...

  • Posted May 1, 2023
Entering some of the riverine wetlands of the Sinnamary River that are only accessible by boat.

Earth

Microbes and Human Health: Aquatic Microbial Communities May Hold Clues about How Deadly Pathogens Spread

Understanding how the interactions between microbial communities and their ecosystems breed pathogens may be beneficial for human health.

  • Posted March 13, 2023
Eastern Hellbender

Fish Science

The Eastern Hellbender: North America’s Largest Salamander May Be In Trouble

Eastern Hellbenders, the largest salamanders in North America, exhibit unique parental care--declining water quality is putting them at risk.

  • Posted February 27, 2023
Monitoring for nitrate, DO, and conductivity in aquatic ecosystems (river).

Earth

The Water of Life: How Understanding Natural Hydrologic Processes in Aquatic Ecosystems Can Lead to a Sustainable Future

Observing aquatic ecosystems reveals some of the most tangible effects of anthropogenic pollution and climate change, making protecting these systems essential.

  • Posted February 1, 2023