Teen Science Cafe | Canaries of the Creek: Bioindicators Water Quality

Do you like scavenger hunts? How can you tell if creek water is clean and healthy. Join environmental educators and researchers Heather Holley and Sammy Bauer for a walk through the science of looking for certain kinds of stream bugs (aquatic macroinvertebrates) that need clean, unpolluted water to survive. What will you find as you dig through real-world data in local creeks and streams.

About our speakers:

Sammy Bauer (she/they) is an environmental educator and professional science communicator. She spends the bulk of her time teaching folks how to protect local waterways from pollution. Prior to pivoting into non-formal education, Sammy taught 6th grade Language Arts and Social Studies in Warren County, North Carolina. Sammy has a bachelor’s degree in communications and a Master of Public Administration (MPA) from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. If you ask her about creek critters, rock climbing, or hotdog toppings, she will get very excited.

Heather Holley is an avid outdoors and nature lover with over 25 years in environmental and arboricultural experience in the private and public sectors. She has served as a Trail Crew Leader, Arboricultural Genetic Researcher, City Arborist, and Engineering/Stormwater Professional. Heather currently is the Stormwater Specialist for the Town of Carrboro Stormwater Division and has work for the City of Charleston, SC and the City of Doral, Fl. She studied Environmental Science at NC State University. If you ask her about her family, sewing, camping, horror movies, nature, or Disney, she will get very excited.