The University of Texas at Arlington-based Texas Manufacturing Assistance Center, known as TMAC, is helping the state's manufacturers reduce pollution with real-time sensors that track their environmental impact. The innovative effort is producing results that could transform how companies protect air and water quality. The program recently earned TMAC an Environmental Excellence award from the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality issued by Governor Greg Abbott for technical innovation.

Microorganisms in the water surrounding coral reefs provide valuable insights on the health state of reefs and surrounding ocean.

Sampling and analyzing reef water microbes can be done in a variety of ways ranging in cost and complexity, adding to their usability.

As many coral reefs experience prolonged bleaching due to heat stress, rising temperatures due to climate change, and other anthropogenic activities, having more accessible monitoring tools can improve coral conservation efforts.

The authors believe that microbe diagnostic techniques can be easily adopted by established organizations to bolster reef monitoring programs and add to a global database of knowledge about coral reef habitats that can inform policy decisions.