These 10 inspiring individuals are the 2020-21 Nova Action Cohort members. Over the course of 2021 they will be sharing more about their individual projects here!
PictureAbigail Mcguire
​My name is Abigail Maguire, and I am a student at Park View Education Centre in Bridgewater. My project with Nova Action is focused on the water quality of Goose Creek in Western Shore. Goose Creek is a small river that is a part of Vaughans River and empties into Rafuse Cove near Oak Island. Residents along the creek reported algae blooms in the summer of 2019 which is an indicator of a high bacteria count. The purpose of my project is to identify the source of the bacteria in the creek. For project updates follow @goose_creek_water on Instagram.
PictureOliver Baker
​My name is Oliver Baker and I am from Kentville, Nova Scotia. My project is surveying Blue Mussels (Mytilus edulis) in Nova Scotia to see if they are filtering microplastics and quantify how many microplastics there are. Blue Mussels are able to filter microplastics because they are filter feeders and have limited sorting abilities to control the materials in the water that enters their system. 
If their tissue contains plastic, it would suggest that the waterway they live in is polluted with microplastics and has risks of causing harm to the invertebrate and other species living in the water. To keep updated with the results, follow @musselmicroplastics on Facebook and Instagram. Find out more about the project on musselmicroplastics.org 
PictureEdie Whittington
​My name is Edie Whittington and I live in Halifax. I’m interested in many different things including health, music, and community growth. Environmental education is an important aspect of my life and my goal for this project is to reach a lot of people and create real change. For my project, I decided to focus on the forestry issues in Nova Scotia. Specifically, why there is only 1% of old growth forests left in our province. I’ve learnt so much and I look forward to sharing it with you all. 
You can follow my progress on Instagram and Facebook at @novaactionforestry
PictureMarissa Cox
​My name is Marissa Cox and I am from Cape Breton! I am 18  years old and enjoy reading, the great outdoors, and board games with friends.  My project consists of using an organic charcoal (called biochar) made from crab shell waste as a soil amendment that can replace lime in agricultural crops.  The hope is that the biochar, with its supplementary nutrients from the crab shells, will reduce soil acidity and improve pumpkin plant growth.  To find out more about my project, you can check out my Instagram page @goforcbbiochar
PictureLéa Kirchhoff
​My name is Léa Kirchhoff and I live in Dartmouth, Nova Scotia. This past year I have been conducting a research project on micro and macro plastics. I chose two beaches in Nova Scotia; one in a rural area and the other in an urban area. I sampled microplastics in the sand and water, and macroplastics on the beach. If you want more info about my project and how to reduce your waste, follow me on my Instagram page @ns.landandwaterplastics  
PictureEmma Crossan
My name is Emma Crossan. I am from Truro, Nova Scotia, and am currently enrolled in the International Baccalaureate program at Cobequid Education Centre. I joined the Nova Action cohort in 2020 and have had a wonderful experience exploring environmental science and pursuing interest in a field that interests me. The area of exploration that I have chosen for my project is the environmental impact of agriculture. I am studying the effects of copper (II) sulfate on the germination rate and radicle growth of lupins. I had done some research prior to this in my internal assessment on the effects of copper (II) sulfate on mung beans, however I thought it would be interesting to study the influence of copper (II) sulfate on a wildflower common to Nova Scotia because of their importance to our bee populations. For updates on this project check out my website here. 
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PictureNorah Adams
​My name is Norah Adams, I’m a grade 11 student at Parkview Education Centre, and currently living in Mahone Bay, Nova Scotia. My Nova Action project is focused on simple methods of determining the origins of salmon (wild, aquaculture, or hatchery). I am doing this by microscopically analyzing various salmon scales, looking for different growth patterns. I hope to apply these ideas to become adaptable for citizen science and be used more commonly in the field. You can learn more about this project at scotiasalmonid.com or @scotiasalmonid on Instagram and Facebook.
PictureSophie Kent-Purcell
Hello! My name is Sophie Kent-Purcell, I live on the Halifax Peninsula. My Project is studying wildlife in the Blue Mountain Birch Cove Wilderness Area, which is located about 20 minutes from Downtown Halifax. I am using trail cameras that detect motion to take photos and videos of wildlife. When I go hiking, I never see any animals larger than a squirrel or a bird and so I was curious about what other kinds of wildlife calls the BMBCWA home. For project updates, check out my website here. 
PictureWilla Jensen
​Hello, my name is Willa Jensen. I am currently in Grade 11. I live in Middle LaHave, Nova Scotia. For my Nova Action project, I am focusing on the Wildcat Wetland, just outside of Bridgewater. I am taking past data and comparing it to observations from recent visits with my mentor, Molly LeBlanc, to show how plants and animals have benefited from the restoration of the habitat. I have an Instagram page where I’ll be sharing updates, images, and news on the project!  
For more information follow @wetland_research on Instagram.