JUNE 10th BLOG ENTRY:
Hola, my name is Luis Miguel Acevedo Soto. I am a rising senior at the University of Puerto Rico at Mayagüez, studying biology. I’m also part of the 2024–2026 class of the NOAA Ernest F. Hollings Scholarship Program, and thanks to this opportunity, I’ll be spending the summer here in Alpena, Michigan. I chose Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary because I wanted the chance to conduct research in a truly extraordinary setting like the Great Lakes.
At the sanctuary, I was offered the opportunity not only to work on the first freshwater acidification project in the Great Lakes, but also to participate in various educational outreach initiatives. The fact that my work here is flexible and allows me to combine scientific research with science communication made this a one-of-a-kind opportunity I couldn’t pass up.
My research background is quite diverse—I’ve had the opportunity to work on projects in marine biology, aquatic science, chemistry, biomedical research, and now, here in Alpena, I’ll be working on water biogeochemistry.
The Freshwater Acidification Project is an extension of NOAA’s Ocean Acidification Monitoring Program. It’s a novel initiative, since we have extensive data on how excess CO₂ is affecting ocean pH, but virtually none on the waters of the Great Lakes. That’s why this project, developed and led here at TBNMS, will lay the foundation for future research aimed at improving ecosystem health and supporting the economy of the Great Lakes region. It will also help us develop strategies to mitigate changes in water pH.
The sampling procedure is carried out similarly at seven designated sites around the sanctuary. We first use the CastAway instrument (the orange device in photo), which gives us the exact GPS location of the sample, along with measurements of water depth, conductivity, and temperature. Then we collect water using a membrane filter system (the yellow box) with a 45-micron pore size. Once processed, the samples and data are sent to NOAA’s Great Lakes Environmental Research Laboratory (GLERL) in Ann Arbor, where scientists
analyze changes in pH, the partial pressure of carbon dioxide (pCO₂), dissolved inorganic carbon (DIC), and total alkalinity (TA) in the Lake Huron system.
But you might be wondering: what exactly is acidification, and why should I care? Acidification refers to the process where water’s pH decreases. This happens when gaseous CO₂ enters the water and chemically reacts to form a weak acid called carbonic acid (H₂CO₃), which dissolves and releases hydronium ions (H₃O⁺), making the water more acidic.
While this is a natural and necessary process for carbon fixation, the overuse of fossil fuels, fertilizers, and pollution has pushed atmospheric CO₂ levels to alarming heights. This directly impacts both aquatic and terrestrial life. Acidification weakens calcium carbonate structures, threatening mollusks—organisms that not only serve as food for both humans and animals but also play a critical role in aquatic ecosystems. Without them, fish populations would decline, affecting entire food webs and the fishing economy.
For all these reasons and more, it’s vital that we reduce our CO₂ emission
s and support science like this—science that aims to protect not just ecosystems, but all of us as well.
I’ll share much more about my adventures and experiences in my next blog, but thought it best to kick things off with why I’m grateful to be here and what I will be working on. I am excited to contribute to the health and appreciation of the Great Lakes.
JUNE 17th BLOG ENTRY:
Luis collects a water sample at Rockport Recreation Area as part of the freshwater acidification on-going study he is helping with.
Not all my days are centered around work — I’ve also had the opportunity to immerse myself in the community of this beautiful town and get to know its people and culture more
closely. You’ll probably see me at some point this summer riding around Alpena on my bike. I have several places that have become part of my daily routine since I arrived, one of them being Bay Athletic Club, where I go almost every day to work out. It’s the first time I’ve been to a gym located inside a hospital, and I found it to be unique and unusual.
One of the best parts of using a bicycle as my main mode of transportation is that I enjoy the journey more than the destination — running along the river never ceases to amaze me. I’ve noticed that people here are incredibly kind, and it shows everywhere — from restaurants like Austin Brothers, where I’ve always received excellent service (my favorite restaurant in Alpena), to simply walking down the street and getting a friendly hello from strangers.
I truly appreciate how clean the city is; it reflects how much the community values and respects their environment. I’m excited to continue sharing my adventures in Alpena as the summer goes on.
JUNE 23rd BLOG ENTRY:
This summer, one of the most exciting and important experiences was the MATE ROV World Championship. I had the opportunity not only to continue working on my research
Luis snorkeling on the sanctuary shipwreck JOSEPH S. FAY.
duties, but also to volunteer at this major event.
Seeing Alpena filled with so much international culture was amazing. Being able to interact with people from all over the world truly defines what a world championship is. Beyond the intense competition and the incredible projects developed by each team, the true reward was the experience itself.
All the young participants left with a new and broader perspective of the world. Events like this help shape future generations with empathy and respect.
Puerto Rico is one of the places with the most rivers per square mile in the world, yet, surprisingly, we have no natural lakes. That’s why, in my entire life, I had never had the chance to swim in one until now.
I had the opportunity to visit Forty Mile Point Beach, where I swam in a lake for the very first time. The experience was truly unique; I had never been in such cold water before. I saw many fish species, which, as a biologist, is always incredibly fascinating to me. And for the first time ever, I swam next to a shipwreck specifically, the Joseph S. Fay.
Seeing such a powerful piece of history up close makes it much easier to understand why the Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary (TBNMS) exists, and why it’s so important to protect these physical remnants of the past so that people from around the world can continue to enjoy this remarkable and one-of-a-kind place.
June 30th BLOG ENTRY:
A few years ago, I realized that appreciating a place’s local art is one of the most beautiful ways to carry its culture with you. That’s why I began an art collection which, although still small, is filled with lovely memories and meaningful moments.
This week, during my free time, I made it a point to visit the Thunder Bay Arts Council, where I had the chance to admire the many forms of art on display and enjoy a very pleasant interaction with the staff. I ended up taking home a piece by local artist Stephanie LaFramboise, who draws inspiration from nature, especially the lakes for her work, which was exactly what I was looking for.
So no matter where life takes me, I will always have a part of Alpena to carry with me.
Dr. Reagen Errera explaining the process in the lab to Luis.
July 7th BLOG ENTRY:
I had the opportunity to visit the Great Lakes Environmental Research Laboratory (GLERL) in Ann Arbor alongside one of my mentors, Sophie Stuart. This experience was incredible, as it was my first time exploring other parts of Michigan outside of Alpena. I was able to do many things in the short time I spent there. I walked around parts of the University of Michigan campus and, most excitingly, got to see the “Big House” in person. We also had the chance to try a variety of different foods and explore Asian cuisines such as Thai and Indian.
At GLERL, we were given a guided tour by Dr. Reagen Errera, where we not only deepened our understanding of the research we’re currently working on, but also gained insight into many other fascinating projects being carried out at the lab. After returning from Ann Arbor, I began taking scuba diving classes, which not only allowed me to dive for the first time in the Great Lakes, but also certified me to dive anywhere in the world undoubtedly one of the most unique experiences I’ve had while in Alpena.
Luis steps into Lake Huron for the final part of his Scuba certification.
THE FINAL WEEK:
These past few weeks have been filled with hard work, lots of fun, and—most importantly—new experiences. I successfully completed my Open Water Diver certification, which will forever be one of the wildest fun facts about me. No matter what happens, I’ll always be able to say that I got my first diving certification in the Great Lakes—and that’s something that can’t be erased.
I also had the chance to dive back into the Alpena community, this time by joining the local DABS basketball league. It gave me the opportunity not only to enjoy the sport I love most, but also to meet many new people. That’s what the league is about: bringing the community together through healthy competition.
Another highlight was being interviewed by The Alpena News, where I shared what life in Michigan has been like for me—not only as a scientist, but as someone who genuinely wants to get to know this place. The interview gave me a platform to talk about the environmental differences I’ve noticed between the world’s largest freshwater system and the ocean.
Finally, I had the opportunity to give my first public presentation on my research. It was incredibly meaningful to share the full context—background, methods, results, and significance—so that the broader community could understand why we work so hard to protect the lake’s pH levels and prevent freshwater acidification.
