High School Student volunteers with Center for Coastal & Watershed Studies during Summer 2025

Aahana Nigam, an Urbana High School rising Senior, spent her summer as a Volunteer in the Center for Coastal & Watershed Studies, under the Biology Department. She participated in the many environmental services projects happening over the summer, which involved much field work in water quality monitoring and lab analyses. When not assisting on a client project, she focused on her "mini research project", which is a small project that each summer student worker focuses on individually. The goal of a mini research project is to enhance research skills while furthering an interest in a specific field. Aahana's mini research project was on using fluorescence microscopy to detect microplastics.

High School Student, Aahana Nigam, volunteers with Center for Coastal & Watershed Studies during Summer 2025

Graduation Year

2030

Program

Biology (B.A.)

Hometown

Urbana, MD

Department

Biology

Career Center
Staff

Center for Coastal and Watershed Studies
Hood Magazine
Natural Sciences

By Catherine Gaudlip, 08/19/2025

Aahana's research gave insight to potentially using fluorescence microscopy, specifically blue light emission, to detect microplastics in everyday materials. The microplastics glowed green amidst a dark background of material.

"I loved spending my summer with the Coastal for Coastal & Watershed Studies. Being out by the water, collecting samples and learning new lab procedures made each day exciting. I especially enjoyed working on my mini research project, where I studied how different types of plastic respond under fluorescence to help identify microplastic pollution. More than anything, I appreciated the quiet moments in the lab and the people I got to meet along the way. I’m so grateful I got to be part of something so meaningful this summer."