Coastwise: From Mangroves to Satellites - Students Connect Local Science to NASA's Missions

Abstract

In this video, Mike Taylor from NASA Goddard Space Flight Center interviews participants in the Coastwise program—a summer course held in Florida's Sarasota-Manatee region that uses NASA's STELLA (Science and Technology Education for Land/Life Assessment) instruments to teach students about remote sensing and Earth observation. The four-day program connects local coastal ecosystem monitoring, particularly mangrove wetlands, to NASA's Landsat satellite missions, demonstrating how ground-based spectral measurements relate to space-based Earth observation across the biosphere and hydrosphere. Students learn spectroscopy, electromagnetic radiation, data collection, and data normalization while exploring real environmental challenges in their community. Coastwise addresses workforce development by reaching students interested in geology, environmental chemistry, ecology, and data science—careers that operate the instruments monitoring Earth's environment but are often overlooked by robotics programs. Students work alongside NASA scientists, gaining hands-on experience with spectrometers and learning how to collect and analyze spectral data. The program partners with local organizations like Suncoast Waterkeeper to provide real-world applications, connecting student work to regional mangrove conservation efforts while demonstrating how local measurements complement NASA's global Earth observation capabilities. Featured in this interview: • Dr. Nick Barbie - Materials scientist and instrument maker who founded the Science and Technology Society in Sarasota and developed the Coastwise curriculum, bringing decades of experience with hyperspectral imaging to STEM education • Tara Bergstrom-Merino - Technology professional at Bank of America and community STEM advocate who connects students with educational opportunities and helped establish Coastwise partnerships • Michael Merino - High school senior and mechanical engineering student who participated in the summer program and shares insights on how Coastwise expanded his understanding of data collection and analysis • Paul Mirel - NASA scientist mentioned by participants as co-developer of STELLA instruments (students talked for weeks about getting to speak with NASA scientists) Special thanks to Craig Phillips, Tim Childers, and the Suncoast Faulhaber Fab Lab for their support of the program.