New England students join forces with NASA scientists to contribute to groundbreaking climate research, tracking the changing colors of leaves in a nationwide effort.
Under the umbrella of NASA's Global Learning and Observation to Benefit the Environment (GLOBE) Green Down program, over 1,500 young people across Maine and New Hampshire participated in the fall 2025 season. The initiative engages students and volunteers in monitoring seasonal changes in plant life by observing and documenting leaf color change and leaf drop.
By utilizing a standardized color guide and observation protocols, participants made repeated observations of diverse tree species including maple, oak, birch, ash, beech, poplar, and apple, generating consistent high-quality data. This effort combined with those from around the world strengthens our understanding of how ecosystems respond to climate change.
Students observed changes in plant health as autumn progressed and began asking their own research questions about regional patterns, sunlight, drought, wildfire smoke, and human impact on ecosystem behaviors. The inquiry process modeled by students mirrors that used by scientists, reflecting a stronger connection with local environments while gaining hands-on experience working with real-world scientific data.
Educators have reported improved student engagement in environmental literacy and science education through the program, resulting in learners discussing climate change impacts at both regional and global scales. Participants contribute valuable insights into seasonal patterns, shedding light on how human activities may be disrupting natural processes.
NASA's Science Activation program facilitated LENE (Learning Ecosystems Northeast) project, a collaboration of educators from Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, New York, and Massachusetts fostering STEM education, data literacy, and local ecosystem stewardship. Educators can now empower young people to contribute meaningfully to NASA-supported scientific research through various initiatives.
The GLOBE Observer app provides hands-on opportunities for community members interested in doing NASA science to collect and share environmental data used by scientists worldwide. Participants gain valuable experience while fostering a stronger connection with their local environment, ultimately contributing to groundbreaking climate research efforts.
Under the umbrella of NASA's Global Learning and Observation to Benefit the Environment (GLOBE) Green Down program, over 1,500 young people across Maine and New Hampshire participated in the fall 2025 season. The initiative engages students and volunteers in monitoring seasonal changes in plant life by observing and documenting leaf color change and leaf drop.
By utilizing a standardized color guide and observation protocols, participants made repeated observations of diverse tree species including maple, oak, birch, ash, beech, poplar, and apple, generating consistent high-quality data. This effort combined with those from around the world strengthens our understanding of how ecosystems respond to climate change.
Students observed changes in plant health as autumn progressed and began asking their own research questions about regional patterns, sunlight, drought, wildfire smoke, and human impact on ecosystem behaviors. The inquiry process modeled by students mirrors that used by scientists, reflecting a stronger connection with local environments while gaining hands-on experience working with real-world scientific data.
Educators have reported improved student engagement in environmental literacy and science education through the program, resulting in learners discussing climate change impacts at both regional and global scales. Participants contribute valuable insights into seasonal patterns, shedding light on how human activities may be disrupting natural processes.
NASA's Science Activation program facilitated LENE (Learning Ecosystems Northeast) project, a collaboration of educators from Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, New York, and Massachusetts fostering STEM education, data literacy, and local ecosystem stewardship. Educators can now empower young people to contribute meaningfully to NASA-supported scientific research through various initiatives.
The GLOBE Observer app provides hands-on opportunities for community members interested in doing NASA science to collect and share environmental data used by scientists worldwide. Participants gain valuable experience while fostering a stronger connection with their local environment, ultimately contributing to groundbreaking climate research efforts.
? Just kidding, I love that the youngins are getting involved in climate research, it's about time we get some fresh perspectives on how humans are screwing up the planet 
They're using NASA's GLOBE program and actually making a difference with their observations. It's cool that they can contribute to real scientific data and not just regurgitate what they learned in school. I wonder if any of them will end up being the next James Hansen 
They're basically becoming junior researchers, which sounds like an amazing opportunity for young people to make a difference.
! Who knew kids could be so into leaf colors? It's amazing how young people can bring down barriers between science and everyday life. The fact that they get to ask questions and work with real data is pure gold 
. I'd love to see more projects like this taking off globally, maybe even a worldwide tree-leaf-color-change competition 
I mean, can you imagine how awesome it is that these young people from New England are teaming up with NASA scientists to study the changing colors of leaves? 
It's like, they're actually making a difference in our understanding of climate change and ecosystems! 
And can you imagine the insights they'll have on regional patterns, sunlight, drought... it's like, whoa! 
The fact that educators are reporting improved student engagement is just the icing on the cake - this program is truly making a positive impact on our young people! 
Plus, it's awesome that they're learning data literacy and STEM skills through hands-on experience. The fact that educators are seeing improved student engagement is a total win! 
i'm literally so hyped about this!!! these new england students are literally changing the game when it comes to climate research lol they're out there collecting data and asking questions like scientists!!! i love how nasa is supporting STEM education and empowering young people to contribute to real-world research 
the globE observer app is genius too, i wish i could be a part of it 
anyway, this initiative is giving me all the feels 
It's also great to see educators reporting improved student engagement in environmental literacy and science education.
. I mean, it's awesome that students are getting involved in climate research, but what's the end goal here? Is it just about collecting data or is there a tangible outcome that comes out of this project? I'd love to see some stats on how this project has actually impacted our understanding of climate change and ecosystem behavior. And what about the standardized color guide? How did they come up with those protocols? Was it based on existing research or just made up? 
. By having hands-on experience with data collection, they're gaining valuable skills that will help them make a positive impact on their communities later on 
. The fact that they're contributing to NASA's research is just the icing on the cake - its amazing to see young minds working together to solve some of our planet's biggest problems 
. And you know what's even better? The fact that these students get to ask their own questions and explore their curiosity about the environment - it's like they're little scientists already 
And the fact that they're using science to figure out climate change impacts is just, like, so cool