Great Salt Lake Institute at Westminster University

🐜🌊 GSLI at BugFest 2026!

The Great Salt Lake Institute joined the Natural History Museum of Utah’s BugFest 2026 to connect with the community and share information about the Great Salt Lake.

Visitors stopped by to learn more about the lake and take part in hands-on activities, including “Tasting Great Salt Lake,” where visitors compared different salinity levels from the South Arm and North Arm of the Great Salt Lake with ocean water. We also invited visitors to participate in the Great Salt Lake Water Saving Pledge.💧

Visitors could also explore Great Salt Lake artifacts through microscopes, including oolitic sand, brine fly casings, and pelican horns, and take a closer look at gypsum crystals. We also had brine shrimp on display and shared samples from the lab to demonstrate the different stages of the brine fly life cycle—from eggs and larvae to pupae and adults. 🔬🦐

We loved connecting with our community and sharing ways we can all help protect and support the Great Salt Lake! 💙

🧫 New Publication!

What can tar seeps reveal about Great Salt Lake?

A new study by Westminster alumni Cayla Martin (Biology), Mary Sanchez (Business), and June Baxter (Computer Science) explores how tar seeps at the North Arm of Great Salt Lake preserve microbes and other biological signatures, providing valuable insights into this unique ecosystem.
The research was conducted in collaboration with professors David Parrott and Bonnie Baxter.
Congratulations to the research team on their publication! 👏

📖 Read the full paper: https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmicb.2026.1832944

A day at Saltair!

We had the opportunity to tour the historic Saltair site and learn about its past, from its beginnings as a popular lakeside resort to the changes that have shaped it over the years. Exploring the area gave us a deeper appreciation for the history of the Great Salt Lake and the stories that continue to make this place so unique. 🌊✨

🪰 Brine Fly Data Collection

Brine flies are an important part of the Great Salt Lake ecosystem, serving as a vital food source for 10+ millions of migratory birds. Monitoring their populations helps researchers better understand how changing environmental conditions affect the lake.

During fieldwork, GSLI undergraduate researchers collect data on brine fly populations and environmental conditions, including salinity. This information helps us track changes over time and provides valuable insight into the health and resilience of the Great Salt Lake ecosystem.

Every field visit adds another piece to our understanding of this unique environment.

New from Newsweek: America’s Lakes Are Shrinking. Data Centers Are Being Built Nearby.
An interesting look at how growing data center demand intersects with water resources, including the Great Salt Lake.

America’s lakes are shrinking. Data centers are being built nearby America's shrinking Western lakes are colliding with an AI data-center boom, fueling new concerns over water scarcity.

🌊The Great Salt Lake has a story to tell.

Secrets of the Great Salt Lake explores the science, beauty, and importance of one of Utah’s most unique ecosystems. We’re proud to see GSLI Director Bonnie K. Baxter featured among the experts sharing their knowledge in the film.

🎬 Coming soon to the new 3D Giant Screen IMAX Theater on Antelope Island.

🎥 Watch the trailer:

Secrets of Great Salt Lake | Official Trailer 4K | SK Films NOW PLAYING ON IMAX & GIANT SCREENSHead to https://secretsofgreats...