Fox Cities News

Lawrence University geosciences professor Jeff Clark, along with students Sydney Closson and Kat McClain, is working on a project to build handheld spectrometers. The initiative is funded by a $10,000 grant from the Wisconsin Space Grant Consortium (WSGC), an educational branch of NASA. The goal is to produce 10 functioning spectrometers by the end of the Spring Term.

The devices will be used to analyze earth-surface materials by capturing wavelengths of reflected light and thermal radiation. They are intended for use in multiple geosciences courses and a WSGC-funded summer research program that employs drones for imaging the earth.

The WSGC supports STEM education through various means such as scholarships and research grants. This particular grant was awarded from the consortium's Higher Education Incentives program. It funds the spectrometer-building efforts during both Winter and Spring terms. Closson, a junior from Rolesville, North Carolina, is pursuing a dual degree in geosciences and music. McClain, also a junior but from Madison, Wisconsin, majors in geosciences.

The process of building these spectrometers involves skills like soldering, 3D printing, electronic wiring, and programming. Each team member contributes essential skills while learning new ones—Closson has experience in 3D printing while McClain brings soldering expertise.

“Sydney and I hadn’t soldered before,” Clark said. “We’re kind of learning this as we go, which is fun, to learn new skills.”

Closson emphasized the broad applicability of these skills: “All the skills we’re learning here...they’re applicable across a lot of different fields.”

McClain has previously participated in Clark-led classes where these updated spectrometers will be utilized: “And I did the drone research project over the summer,” she noted.

Clark secured the grant allowing him to collaborate with Closson and McClain on building 10 spectrometers over two academic terms. He remarked on troubleshooting challenges: “I had a lot of fun troubleshooting...Just trying to devise ways of testing that the connections were good.”

Both students have benefited from WSGC funding before; Closson received a competitive statewide scholarship last year while McClain was awarded it this year.