July e-Newsletter Community Guest Spotlight with Andrew Lewis
Posted Jul 7, 2025
Andrew Lewis, PhD Candidate, University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa, Department of Geography and Environment
Freshwater springs, where groundwater emerges at the Earth’s surface, are vital yet often overlooked eco-hydro-social systems. Springs serve as ecological refugia, indicators of aquifer health, and important spaces for social and cultural connection. With support from the CUAHSI Instrumentation Discovery Travel Grant (IDTG), I had the opportunity to travel to northern Italy to deepen my understanding of springs and explore innovative methods for assessing and stewarding them.
Over two weeks, I participated in a collaborative field training hosted by Prof. Marco Cantonati at the University of Bologna, an expert in spring ecology and benthic diatom research. I visited more than a dozen springs across the Alps and Apennines, each shaped by unique geological, ecological, and social conditions. Through this experience, I learned techniques for collecting benthic diatoms- microscopic algae used as sensitive indicators of spring water quality. Exposure to these protocols expanded my methodological repertoire and offered insight into potential avenues for future research.
Just as valuable as the scientific training was the opportunity to observe local spring sites and communities, and to engage with residents and stewards who shared stories, concerns, and insights. During fieldwork, I observed how springs once used for drinking and bathing are now often diverted or left unmaintained, creating what I began to think of as “displaced” ecosystems. Conversations with community members, combined with the expertise of Prof. Cantonati and his colleagues, revealed how deeply springs are embedded in ecological, hydrogeologic, and cultural contexts.
One of the most impactful lessons came from observing a citizen science campaign led by Dr. Stefano Segadelli, a regional hydrogeologist. His initiative supports community-based mapping and monitoring of springs, enabling local residents to report environmental changes and spring locations. This model resonated deeply with my own work in Hawaiʻi, where I aim to develop similar platforms for tracking and protecting springs.
This experience has deepened my understanding of the diversity of spring types and the complex ecological features that define them. The IDTG provided an invaluable opportunity to build relationships across borders, expand my methodological toolkit, and reflect on the global relevance of my dissertation research. It also reinforced the importance of integrating community voices, cultural knowledge, and lived experience in the study and protection of groundwater. As I move forward in my academic journey, I hope to continue bridging physical science and social practice to better understand and protect spring ecosystems.
