Indianapolis, Indiana – In the early hours of a humid May morning, a group of University of Indianapolis biology students stepped into the wild landscape of Eagle Marsh, armed not with books or microscopes, but with nets, sifting trays, and a keen sense of curiosity. They were there for the annual Eagle Marsh BioBlitz, a 24-hour biodiversity survey event led by scientists, students, and nature enthusiasts from across Indiana. And for these UIndy students, it was more than just a field trip—it was a hands-on experience in real-world science.
The BioBlitz, organized by the Indiana Academy of Science, brings together teams of researchers to identify as many species as possible within a single day. This year, Dr. Marc Milne, associate professor of biology at UIndy and an expert in arachnology, led a dedicated spider team. Alongside him were five of his student researchers, all working on Honors or capstone projects in his lab.
“The goal is to find and document as many species as we can that live at Eagle Marsh Nature Preserve,” explained Dr. Milne. “This helps with documenting species that have not been recorded in Indiana before, and then occasionally we come across undescribed species as well that are new to science.”
To support their efforts, the team was joined by two skilled macro-photographers who captured high-resolution images of the spiders in their natural habitats. These photos help confirm identifications and contribute to a growing database of regional biodiversity. The group also used field techniques such as net sweeping through tall grasses and sifting through forest floor litter to uncover elusive arachnids hiding in the undergrowth.
For Reese Hoover ’26, a Biology and Pre-Med major, the BioBlitz opened a new window into the diversity of life. “During the BioBlitz, I got to learn more about not only spiders, but so many other organisms,” Hoover said. “I really enjoyed the sense of community that was felt there. Getting to know other members of the spider team, as well as people from the other taxon teams, created a wonderful environment for learning. Everyone was excited and happy to be there! It was a really fun time, and I’m so glad I got to be a part of it!”
Indeed, collaboration was at the heart of the BioBlitz. The UIndy students not only gained hands-on field experience, but also met scientists from other specialties, such as entomology, botany, and ornithology. These informal exchanges helped broaden their scientific perspectives and show how interconnected ecosystems really are.
“The BioBlitz was truly an amazing experience,” said Holly LaFlair ’26. “I enjoyed meeting other types of biologists and hearing about their experiences. At first, it was a bit intimidating being around spider experts, but I realized that we all share the same passion, and it was a lot of fun to connect with them.”
For many students, this event also served as a bridge between classroom theory and practical research. While some students spend most of their time in the lab working on DNA sequencing or taxonomic classification, the BioBlitz gave them a taste of the early stages of scientific inquiry—collecting raw data directly from the field.
“The BioBlitz connected to my coursework because I got to experience the fieldwork and collection side of research work,” said Taylor Stahl ’26. “I normally work in the lab doing DNA extraction, so seeing and doing the parts that are normally done before I get to the spiders is always interesting. I would love to do research work similar to what we did at the BioBlitz in my future career, so gaining more experience and making connections that can help me narrow down what I want to do, or even just help me grow professionally, was really nice.”
The effort doesn’t end once the nets are packed up and the tents taken down. In September, the UIndy team will reconvene for what they call an “ID party,” where they’ll analyze the collected specimens, using microscopes and identification keys to determine exact species. This work is vital to building a fuller picture of Indiana’s natural biodiversity and helps conservationists better understand what’s at stake.
“Spiders play an important role in ecosystems, and there are a lot of spider groups that are threatened and even endangered,” said Dr. Milne. “Eagle Marsh is a wetland, and wetlands are rapidly disappearing from the U.S. When we lose wetlands, we also lose the birds, the mammals, the plants, and the invertebrates that live in those wetlands. So documenting species in preserves like Eagle Marsh will give us a better idea of what we could be losing. So there’s a large conservation aspect to the BioBlitz as well. We have to document what’s there to know how to conserve them.”
That sense of urgency is what makes the BioBlitz more than a field exercise—it’s a contribution to the bigger picture of conservation science. With wetlands like Eagle Marsh under increasing pressure from development and climate change, efforts to document existing species provide crucial data for protecting these habitats.
For the students involved, the experience was a vivid reminder that science doesn’t always happen in labs or lecture halls. Sometimes, it happens in the mud, in the grass, in the silent stillness of a hidden web. And while the data gathered during the BioBlitz will contribute to scientific knowledge, perhaps the most lasting impact will be on the students themselves.
Through events like the BioBlitz, UIndy is preparing a new generation of scientists—not just with skills and knowledge, but with a sense of purpose and connection to the natural world. For these students, the adventure at Eagle Marsh may be just the beginning of a lifelong journey of discovery.
