Thayer Academy visits to CSCR, May 2026
The students participated in a beach clean-up in Cohasset using the Marine Debris Tracker to document marine debris along the shoreline. During the field work, students collected geolocated observations of debris items, including plastics, fishing gear, rubber, cloth, metal, paper/lumber, and other materials. Each observation included a mapped location, photo documentation, and field notes.
Following the clean-up, students transitioned into a GIS and data management workflow that mirrored authentic environmental data practices used by researchers and municipal organizations. Their post-field tasks included:
- Retrieving their collected data from the Marine Debris Tracker platform
- Filtering the dataset to isolate Cohasset-specific records
- Uploading the cleaned dataset into Google Drive
- Importing the data into ArcGIS Online
- Styling debris locations by material type using categorized symbology
- Creating visualizations and charts to analyze debris composition
Using ArcGIS Online, students produced maps showing the spatial distribution of marine debris across the beach and created a pie chart summarizing material composition. Their analysis showed that approximately 70% of the debris collected was plastic, providing a clear visual representation of the dominant waste stream impacting the shoreline.
The students also explored ways to communicate environmental data to the public through a simple public-facing dashboard created in ArcGIS. The dashboard serves as a prototype for sharing community science data and demonstrates how GIS products can support environmental education, transparency, and outreach.
One of the most meaningful moments came during the GIS work itself. After seeing how field-collected debris data could be transformed into interactive maps and visual analysis tools in ArcGIS Online, student Cole responded: “Oh, that’s cool.” The comment captured an important aspect of the experience: students recognizing that the data they collected in the field could become something analytical, visual, and publicly useful.
In addition to the marine debris work, the students engaged in broader watershed exploration activities with CSCR, including exposure to coastal systems, water quality monitoring, GIS workflows, and community-based environmental research methods. The experience reflected CSCR’s model of combining outdoor field science, spatial thinking, data literacy, and civic-oriented environmental stewardship.
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CSCR Students Make An Impact At MassGIS – August 2025
We are excited to share that the Cohasset Center for Student Coastal Research (CSCR) was recently featured in the MassGIS newsletter, highlighting our new and growing partnership with MassGIS. This collaboration reflects our shared mission to empower high school students through community-driven, environmental research that leverages cutting-edge geospatial technologies. With support from MassGIS, CSCR is helping students build valuable GIS skills while contributing to real-world solutions for climate resilience and environmental stewardship in coastal Massachusetts.
As part of this partnership, CSCR students reimagined foundational ArcGIS Online lessons into locally focused, environmental projects using MassGIS data. Their culminating work—community-based analyses of open space, heat severity, flooding, and water quality—was presented to the State Geographic Information Officer and other state leaders through engaging ArcGIS StoryMaps and Experience Builder applications. We’re especially proud of students Rishik Kundu, Charlotte Lynch, Rosemary Guzek, and intern Kelly Kowenhoven, whose presentations and technical mastery earned official Certificates of Proficiency and high praise from state officials. We look forward to expanding this innovative program in Fall 2025 and continuing to prepare the next generation of geospatial leaders.
Read the full article in the MassGIS newsletter →
From left to right: Tom Mueller, Jack Buckley, Shyam Soundararajan (MassGIS Intern), Cy Smith, Kelly Kowenhoven, Rosemary Guzek, Charlotte Lynch, and Rishik Kundu