On Mother’s Day, May 11, a group of students and faculty from St. Francis College in Hyderabad, India, visited Main Street Beach in Vermilion as part of a research partnership with Case Western Reserve University. The group is participating in the Global Immersion Program, which promotes international academic exchange and collaborative study.
According to program coordinator Deb Harris, the visiting students are undergraduates from Begumpet, a locality in Hyderabad, Telangana, India. Their ten-day visit to Northeast Ohio included fieldwork on Lake Erie’s shoreline, where they collected sand samples to test for coliform bacteria. The project is part of a broader effort to study microbiological conditions in various environmental settings.
Earlier in the year, Case Western students traveled to India during winter break and completed four research projects in Hyderabad, including work involving nanoparticles and their antimicrobial properties.
The group visiting Vermilion included Dr. Roselin Polugari, Dr. Gayatri V., Dr. Arsheen, Dr. Basanti, Dr. Suman, Ms. Zainab, Ms. Khyathi, Ms. Lalitha, Ms. Sumaiya, Ms. Mehvish, Ms. Mritsha, and Ms. Angelina, along with student Priyusha Pokala and program lead Deb Harris from Case Western.
The sand sampling effort in Vermilion reflects a continuing exchange between the two institutions, focusing on real-world scientific inquiry and environmental health. The collaboration allows students from both countries to explore issues relevant to global water quality and public health through shared research methods and local engagement.
The group’s visit to Vermilion was one of several stops during their stay in the region. Additional research and educational activities are planned throughout their trip.
