October 24, 2019

Earth and environmental sciences major Nicholas Visser ’20 spent the summer sampling streams with our Freshwater Research Institute (FRI) to determine the health and presence of trout.

The FRI is collaborating with the Pennsylvania Fish & Boat Commission to have unassessed streams classified and protected as wild trout streams. Visser says this hands-on work—plus being tasked with collecting and interpreting data—gave him important experience in his field.

“I love to fish so working with so many trout was so awesome and traveling to many different sites around central PA was great to experience,” he says.

“I think the best part of the research in the field was making connections and friendships that I still have today,” adds Visser.

Visser hopes to continue work in this field and do something to help people and the environment.