How can citizen scientists—especially youth—contribute meaningfully to the study of nutrient loading and harmful algal blooms (HABs) across Gulf watersheds? This talk introduces the Living Loop Lab, a 6,000-mile “floating classroom” launching in late 2026 to investigate how industrial agriculture contributes to bloom dynamics and estuarine decline.

The project trains teens and community partners to collect nutrient data (nitrates, phosphates, turbidity, dissolved oxygen) using NOAA Phytoplankton Monitoring Network (PMN) protocols, while also uploading geo-tagged observations and youth narratives via mobile tools. These data are layered with GIS land-use overlays (USDA Cropland Data Layer, NOAA C-CAP) to connect agricultural practices with bloom events in near real time.

For Gulf stakeholders, the approach offers a replicable framework: pairing low-cost kits and standardized sampling with story-driven reflections that add social insight to spatial science. Attendees will preview protocols, mapping tools, and early pilot results—and explore how a youth-powered network can help expand HAB monitoring capacity while fostering resilience planning grounded in both data and lived experience.