Real science.
Real coastline.
Real instruments.
COASTWISE is a 9-day STEM enrichment program for high school students — using NASA's STELLA Q2 spectrometer, drone imagery, and satellite data to study and protect the Florida Suncoast.
What does COASTWISE stand for?
Community Observations and Analyses using Spectroscopic Techniques and Wetlands Imaging to foster Stewardship of the Environment
Learn
Electromagnetic radiation, how spectrometers work, and how to collect quality data — the same skills used by professional applications scientists worldwide.
Explore
Field work with NASA's STELLA Q2 spectrometer, Google Earth time-lapse, My NASA Data, and satellite imagery of our own Suncoast waterways and wetlands.
Grow
Write a real scientific paper, fly a spectrometer on a drone, and develop an informed perspective on environmental stewardship that lasts long after the 9 days.
Three ways to go deeper
From spectrometer basics to drone-mounted aerial imaging — every day of COASTWISE is hands-on with real instruments and real data.
NASA STELLA Q2 in the field
Students learn to operate an 18-channel VNIR spectrometer, collect reproducible data, and understand what makes measurements scientifically valid.
See the programSatellite data & wetlands imaging
Google Earth time-lapses, NASA World View, My NASA Data — students analyze real geophysical data to see how Suncoast ecosystems change over time.
See our workFlying the spectrometer on a drone
Students attempt aerial spectroscopy by mounting the STELLA Q2 on a drone — the same technique used by Suncoast Waterkeeper to map mangrove health.
Meet the teamInterested in the next cohort?
COASTWISE runs with a small group of motivated high school students each season. Reach out to find out when the next program opens.
Scientists, engineers & educators
COASTWISE is led by a team of working professionals — spectroscopists, aerospace engineers, drone pilots, AI experts, and marine scientists. Hover or tap a card to flip it.
Program Leadership
01Dr. Nick Barbi
Founder & Program DirectorLifelong career in optical and X-Ray spectroscopy. NASA STEM Education Ambassador. Designed COASTWISE around the NASA STELLA Q2 instrument.
↻ flip backMentors
05Tara Merino
Student Program ManagerOversees the student team and serves alongside Dr. Nick as the point of contact for any procedural or personal questions or concerns.
↻ flip backTim Childers
Aerospace EngineerBrings engineering rigor to instrument design, data collection methods, and project planning.
↻ flip backSavanna Finley
Program MentorSupports students across the 9-day course with hands-on guidance through fieldwork and data analysis.
↻ flip backLuca Stine
AI ExpertGuides students in using Claude AI to analyze spectral data, explain methods, and generate scientific justification — without getting lost in the tooling.
↻ flip backJerry Smith
Drone ExpertOwns and operates a local drone company. Drone pilot on the Suncoast Waterkeeper mangrove mapping project — same technique students attempt in COASTWISE.
↻ flip backStudent Team
11Colton McGill
Student Team CaptainActive across the Spectroscopy, Spectrometer, Drone Flying, and Data Analytics task groups — leading by example across the whole program.
↻ flip backJustin Kim
Spectroscopy Co-Leader · Data AnalyticsCo-leads the Spectroscopy task group and also contributes to the Data Analytics team.
↻ flip backGabi Otero
Spectroscopy Co-LeaderCo-leads the Spectroscopy task group alongside Justin Kim.
↻ flip backCharles Masia
Data Analytics Lead · SpectroscopyLeads the Data Analytics task group and also contributes to Spectroscopy.
↻ flip backJohn Onesti
SpectroscopyMember of the Spectroscopy task group.
↻ flip backNatalie Merino
Spectrometer Lead · Data AnalyticsLeads the Spectrometer task group's 3D redesign and contributes to Data Analytics.
↻ flip backMichael Merino
Spectrometer · AdjunctAdjunct member of the Spectrometer task group.
↻ flip backCache Maola
Spectrometer · AdjunctAdjunct member of the Spectrometer task group, working on the 3D redesign.
↻ flip backSophia Swerdloff
SpectrometerMember of the Spectrometer task group.
↻ flip backMitran Loganathan
Data AnalyticsWorks on analysis code for the Data Analytics task group.
↻ flip backNeil Acharya
Drone Flying LeadLeads the Drone Flying task group.
↻ flip backGuest Speakers
04Dr. Abbey Tyrna
Suncoast Waterkeeper · In-PersonDescribes her real-world project using spectroscopic data and drone imagery to map mangrove volume and health in our region.
↻ flip backMike Taylor
NASA STELLA Expert · RemoteThe go-to expert who interfaces with STELLA users nationwide. Shares deep knowledge of the Q2 instrument and NASA's support ecosystem.
↻ flip backBianca Cilento
False-Color Imaging · RemotePublished the false-color satellite image that originally inspired COASTWISE. Shares the story of how a single image can reveal what the naked eye can't see.
↻ flip backNandini Khaneja
Project Earth Lens · RemoteLed the Texas high school team that successfully flew a STELLA Q2 on a drone in Project "Earth Lens" — giving COASTWISE students a real blueprint to follow.
↻ flip backWant to get involved?
We're always open to connecting with mentors, educators, and industry professionals who want to bring real science to high school students.
The COASTWISE course
A two-week deep-dive for high school students into spectroscopy, earth science data, and drone-based aerial imaging — using real NASA instruments on a real Florida coastline.
Register for both weeks →Week One
Days 1–5 · SCF Manatee–SarasotaHow Spectrometers Work
Electromagnetic radiation fundamentals, how light interacts with matter, and a hands-on introduction to the NASA STELLA Q2 — an 18-channel Visible and Near-Infrared spectrometer.
Learn moreCollecting Quality Data
What makes data scientifically valid — precision, reproducibility, instrument limitations. Students practice collecting real-world measurements with the STELLA Q2.
Learn moreNASA & USGS Data Sources
Exploring the wealth of publicly available environmental data from NASA and USGS. Introduction to Google Earth, My NASA Data, and NASA World View to understand Suncoast ecosystem changes over time.
Learn moreSatellite & Aerial Imaging
False-color imaging, geophysical data interpretation, and how aerial and satellite spectroscopy reveals what the naked eye can't see — inspired by the image that started COASTWISE.
Learn moreField Spectroscopy — Suncoast Sites (Part 1)
Students take the STELLA Q2 into the field at Suncoast sites — collecting spectral data on vegetation, water, and soil while practicing proper measurement protocols.
Learn moreWeek Two
Days 6–9 · Fowler Fab Lab, OspreyField Spectroscopy — Suncoast Sites (Part 2)
A second field day continuing data collection at new Suncoast sites, building on Week One's measurement protocols with a broader set of samples.
Learn moreAI-Assisted Data Analysis
Using Claude AI to analyze spectral datasets, explain statistical methods, generate visualizations, and provide scientific justification — without the course being consumed by coding.
Learn moreAerial Spectroscopy by Drone
Attempting to fly the STELLA Q2 on a drone — following in the footsteps of Project "Earth Lens" and guided by drone expert Jerry Smith, who uses the same technique for Suncoast Waterkeeper.
Learn moreScientific Paper & Presentations
Students complete their field reports in the format of a scientific paper — following the same structure used by the nationwide STELLA competition proposed by COASTWISE's founder.
Learn moreReady for the next cohort?
COASTWISE accepts a small group of motivated high school students each season. Register for both weeks below.
What COASTWISE has explored
Real projects using real instruments — from satellite imagery of Suncoast wetlands to drone-mounted spectrometers over mangroves. Here's what students have worked on.
NASA STELLA Q2 Field Program
The backbone of COASTWISE — students learn to operate NASA's 18-channel Visible and Near-Infrared spectrometer in real field conditions, collecting reproducible spectral data on water, vegetation, and soil across Suncoast sites.
Robinson Preserve Restoration
Students use Google Earth time-lapse imagery to study the restoration of Robinson Preserve by Manatee County Natural Resources — seeing how a degraded wetland was brought back over time.
Learn moreGulf Chlorophyll Mapping
Using My NASA Data to visualize monthly ocean chlorophyll concentration across the Gulf of Mexico — connecting spectroscopic principles to real satellite-derived environmental monitoring.
Learn moreSTELLA Q2 on a Drone
Inspired by the Texas student team's "Earth Lens" project — COASTWISE students attempt to mount and fly the NASA STELLA Q2 spectrometer on a drone, guided by professional pilot Jerry Smith.
Learn moreMangrove Health Mapping
Suncoast Waterkeeper uses drone-mounted spectroscopy to map mangrove volume and health across our region. COASTWISE students study this real-world methodology and the data it produces.
Learn moreAI-Assisted Spectral Analysis
Students use Claude AI to analyze STELLA Q2 datasets — generating spectral plots, identifying patterns, and producing the kind of data write-ups that appear in a scientific paper.
Learn moreA Nationwide STELLA Competition
Dr. Nick Barbi, through his role as a NASA STEM Education Ambassador, has proposed a national student competition using the STELLA instrument family — modeled on FIRST Robotics but for chemistry, biology, and earth science.
Learn moreGet in touch with COASTWISE
Interested in the next cohort? Want to partner, mentor, or bring COASTWISE to your school? Reach out any time.
Reach the team
COASTWISE runs across multiple Suncoast sites — wetlands, waterways, and open areas suitable for drone operations. Specific locations shared with enrolled students prior to each field day.