Robust Community Research Articles

Opinion: Strengthening research in the Global South – atmospheric science opportunities in South America and Africa

Abstract. To tackle the current pressing atmospheric science issues, as well as those in the future, a robust scientific community is necessary in all regions across the globe. Unfortunately, this does not yet exist. There are many geographical areas that are still underrepresented in the atmospheric science community, many of which are in the Global South. There are also larger gaps in the understanding of atmospheric composition, processes, and impacts in these regions. In this opinion, we focus on two geographical areas in the Global South to discuss some common challenges and constraints, with a focus on our strengths in atmospheric science research. It is these strengths, we believe, that highlight the critical role of Global South researchers in the future of atmospheric science research.

Tracing the origins of Plasmodium vivax resurgence after malaria elimination on Aneityum Island in Vanuatu

BackgroundFive years after successful malaria elimination, Aneityum Island in Vanuatu experienced an outbreak of Plasmodium vivax of unknown origin in 2002. Epidemiological investigations revealed several potential sources of P. vivax. We aimed to identify the genetic origin of P. vivax responsible for the resurgence.MethodsFive P. vivax microsatellite markers were genotyped using DNA extracted from archived blood samples. A total of 69 samples from four P. vivax populations was included: 29 from the outbreak in 2002, seven from Aneityum in 1999 and 2000, 18 from visitors to Aneityum in 2000, and 15 from nearby Tanna Island in 2002. A neighbour-joining phylogenetic tree was constructed to elucidate the relationships among P. vivax isolates. STRUCTURE and principal component analysis were used to assess patterns of genetic structure.ResultsHere we show distinct genetic origins of P. vivax during the outbreak on Aneityum. While the origin of most P. vivax lineages found during the outbreak remains unidentified, limited genetic diversity among these lineages is consistent with a rapid expansion from a recent common ancestor. Contemporaneous P. vivax from neighboring Tanna and potential relapse of P. vivax acquired from other islands in 1999 and 2000 are also identified as minor contributors to the outbreak.ConclusionsMultiple reintroductions of P. vivax after elimination highlight the high receptivity and vulnerability to malaria resurgence in island settings of Vanuatu, despite robust surveillance and high community compliance to control measures.

Modeling a robust 2-service community healthcare network design problem with central hospital congestion

We address a more realistic variant of the community healthcare network design problem, considering a 2-service network framework and hospital congestion structures. Our objective is to minimise the total expected cost through strategic location of central hospitals and allocation of community health stations. Notably, each community health station is allocated to exactly two central hospitals. We also account for uncertainties in resident medical demands, which are challenging to predict accurately due to their volatility. To tackle this, we propose an adaptive distributionally robust optimisation approach that confines uncertain variables to an ambiguity set reflecting demand distribution characteristics. To enhance tractability, we reformulate the distributionally robust model as a mixed-integer linear programme within the specified ambiguity set. Numerical experiments on a real case demonstrate the validity and superiority of the proposed model. Finally, the impact of uncertainty is discussed in depth and some managerial insights for healthcare managers are summarised.

The effects of native seed mix composition and sowing density on plant community reassembly in wetlands

AbstractSeed‐based restoration of wetlands is often necessary to improve important ecosystem functions (e.g., invasion resistance and habitat provisioning) and meet society's need for wetland ecosystem services such as supporting recreational activities and improving water quality. However, persistent questions remain about the composition and sowing density of seed mixes needed to restore robust native wetland plant communities. In Great Salt Lake wetlands (Utah, USA), the revegetation of native species is crucial to recovering critical habitat and preventing reinvasion of the invasive, non‐native grass Phragmites australis and other invasive species (e.g., Typha spp.). In greenhouse and field experiments, we investigated the effects of seed mix composition and sowing density on plant community reassembly. We predicted that seed mixes containing native forb species with resource‐preempting traits (e.g., rapid seedling emergence and high aboveground growth rate) and high sowing densities (>5500 pure live seed m−2), would increase native plant light acquisition and establishment, thereby limiting invasive species. To our surprise, the effect of seed mix composition on native plant performance (cover and biomass) varied among the experiments, with distinct differences between plant functional groups arising. Native forb species had the highest performance in the greenhouse, but native grasses performed better in the field. Although multiple seed mix compositions show promise for establishing high native cover and biomass, these mixes may not always suppress invasive species. Interestingly, seed mix composition most often affected plant performance independent of sowing density. However, in one greenhouse experiment, we found that only slow‐growing mixes required a high sowing density to maximize native cover, an indication that the ideal sowing density may depend on the seed mix composition. Our research also supports the idea that in addition to reducing propagules of invasive species via appropriate management strategies, the application of higher sowing densities (>5500 pure live seed m−2) may lead to more favorable outcomes when a high density of invasive plant seeds remains or stressful field conditions are present. This research contributes to knowledge of plant community reestablishment in wetlands and demonstrates how seed‐based restoration strategies can catalyze native species revegetation and, in some situations, reduce the cover of invasive species.

A new strategy for accelerating recovery of anaerobic granular sludge after low-temperature shock: In situ regulation of quorum sensing microorganisms embedded in polyvinyl alcohol sodium alginate

Low-temperature could inhibit the performance of anaerobic granular sludge (AnGS). Quorum sensing (QS), as a communication mode between microorganisms, can effectively regulate AnGS. In this study, a kind of embedded particles (PVA/SA@Serratia) based on signal molecule secreting bacteria was prepared by microbial immobilization technology based on polyvinyl alcohol and sodium alginate to accelerate the recovery of AnGS system after low temperature. Low-temperature shock experiment verified the positive effect of PVA/SA@Serratia on restoring the COD removal rate and methanogenesis capacity of AnGS. Further analysis by metagenomics analysis showed that PVA/SA@Serratia stimulated higher QS activity and promoted the secretion of extracellular polymeric substance (EPS) in AnGS. The rapid construction of EPS protective layer effectively accelerated the establishment of a robust microbial community structure. PVA/SA@Serratia also enhanced multiple methanogenic pathways, including direct interspecies electron transfer. In conclusion, this study demonstrated that PVA/SA@Serratia could effectively strengthen AnGS after low-temperature shock.

Lessons Learned from the Implementation of Youth Wellness Hubs Ontario, an Integrated Youth Services Network: Perspectives from Network Leads.

Mental health and substance use services for youth in Canada continue to be fragmented. In response, Integrated Youth Services (IYS) has been proposed to address gaps in youth mental health services that can lead to improved youth outcomes. Youth Wellness Hubs Ontario (YWHO) was launched in 2017 as Ontario's IYS Network for youth ages 12-25, prioritizing continuous improvement through evaluation. At the end of the first three years of the YWHO initiative, an evaluation was carried out to identify the barriers and facilitators to the initial implementation of YWHO and service delivery modifications resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic across ten sites. Reporting on these is the focus of this article. Key informant interviews were conducted in early 2021 with Network Leads from all ten initial YWHO sites. Reflexive thematic analysis was used to analyze all interview data. Facilitators to the implementation of the YWHO model included diversified funding models, YWHO Provincial Office implementation supports, clear hub processes, robust community partnerships, organizational support and dedicated staff. Common barriers included certain challenges related to staffing and finances, implementation of the shared data collection platform, implementation of measurement-based care, partnerships, integrated service delivery, and branding and communications. Implementation of IYS is highly collaborative and quite complex. As interest in such models increase, so does the need for knowledge related to optimal implementation. Learnings have informed developments and improvements made to the YWHO model. Insights will also inform how stakeholders support youth in their communities in designing and implementing services that improve youth mental health and overall well-being.

Ghanaian women’s experience of intimate partner violence (IPV) during group antenatal care: a brief report from a cluster randomised controlled trial

ABSTRACT Intimate partner violence (IPV) impacts women of reproductive age globally and can lead to significant negative consequences during pregnancy. This study describes an exploratory aim of a cluster randomised controlled trial designed to assess the outcomes of Group Antenatal Care (ANC) in Ghana. The purpose was to understand the effect of a healthy relationship Group ANC module on experiences of IPV and safety planning as well as to explore the relationship between self-efficacy on the experiences of IPV and safety planning. Data were collected at baseline and at 11–14 months postpartum (post). Survey measures captured reported experiences of violence, self-efficacy, and safety. The chi-square test was used to compare baseline and post scores, and a logistic regression was performed to ascertain the effects of self-efficacy on the experiences of IPV in both groups. The sample included 1,751 participants, of whom 27.9% reported IPV at baseline. Between baseline and postpartum, there was a small increase in reported emotional (6.2% vs. 4.6%) and sexual (5.4% vs. 3.2%) violence in the intervention group compared to the control group. Logistic regression demonstrated that an increasing self-efficacy score was associated with an increased likelihood of experiencing IPV. There were no changes in safety knowledge. This study found higher rates of reported sexual and emotional violence post-intervention among the intervention group. Group ANC may be just one part of a portfolio of interventions needed to address IPV at all socio-ecological levels. Paper Context Main findings: There was no reduction in experiences of intimate partner violence or increases in safety planning among Ghanaian pregnant women participating in a Group Antenatal Care session focused on healthy relationships and safety planning. Added knowledge: Group Antenatal Care has been identified as an effective modality for providing antenatal care and facilitating conversations about sensitive topics such as intimate partner violence and safety. However, this study highlights the importance of developing multifaceted approaches to decrease the risk of intimate partner violence among women, especially during the critical times of pregnancy and postpartum. Global health impact for policy and action: Effective global health action and policy must extend beyond educational efforts, incorporating multifaceted strategies that include healthcare provider training, robust community engagement, and legislation aimed at preventing intimate partner violence, with a special focus on safeguarding the well-being of women during pregnancy and the postpartum period.

GIS-based Social Vulnerability Integration for Robust Flood Response, Disease Prevention and Community Resilience in Chennai Metropolitan Area post-Cyclone Michaung

The present study outlines a comprehensive strategy for flood response, disease prevention and long-term community resilience in the aftermath of a recent Cyclone Michaung, with the proximity of landfall near Chennai and the increased likelihood of flooding in the CMA. Drawing insights from an existing social vulnerability map, the study addresses the unique challenges posed by flooding and aims to mitigate the heightened risk of waterborne and vector-borne diseases. Objectives encompass assessing social vulnerability, formulating a targeted flood response strategy, implementing healthcare interventions for disease prevention, strengthening information dissemination and advocating for long-term resilience planning. The methodology involves reviewing the existing vulnerability map, identifying vulnerable communities, integrating flood impact data and developing a comprehensive response plan. The study utilizes GIS and Remote Sensing technologies for monitoring and assessing the results. Key findings from the social vulnerability assessment inform prioritized intervention areas for both flood response and disease prevention. The discussion interprets results in the context of strategy effectiveness, emphasizing the significance of a nuanced and inclusive approach. This manuscript serves as a guide for stakeholders in implementing a holistic strategy that addresses immediate concerns, prevents disease outbreaks and fosters long-term community resilience.

Urban and agricultural land use led to niche differentiation of AOA, AOB and comammox along the Beiyun River continuum

River ecological health has been severely threatened by anthropogenic land-use pressures. Here, by combining remote sensing and molecular biology methods, we evaluated the impact of land-use activities on nitrification, a fundamental ecological process in rivers, which is conducted by ammonia-oxidising archaea (AOA) and ammonia-oxidising bacteria (AOB), or the newly discovered complete ammonia oxidisers (comammox). We explored the relationships of the abundance, activity, and diversity of AOA, AOB, and comammox in river sediments with land-use pressure by proposing a quantitative land use pattern index (LPI) over a 184 km continuum along the Beiyun River in North China. We found that comammox dominated nitrification in the forestry upstream (67.07 % in summer, 56.40 % in winter), while AOB became the major player in the urban middle (56.51 % in summer, 53.08 % in winter) and agricultural downstream reaches (62.98 % in summer, 50.74 % in winter). In addition, urban and agricultural land use lowered the α diversity of AOA and comammox, as well as simplified their co-occurrence networks, but promoted AOB diversity and complicated their networks. The structural equation model illustrated that the key drivers affecting the key taxa and activities were ammonia, and C/N for AOB, and total organic matter, and pH for comammox. We thus conclude that watershed urban and agricultural land use drive the niche differentiation of AOA, AOB, and comammox, specifically leading to a robust AOB community but weakened AOA and comammox communities. Our study connects the macro and micro worlds and provides a new paradigm for studying the variation in microbial communities as well as the potential ecological consequences under the increased anthropogenic land-use pressures in the Anthropocene.

Political Instability Causes & Affects

This article investigates the relationship between political instability and economic growth. We define “political instability” as the propensity of a government collapse, and we argues in which political instability and economic growth are interdependent to each other. The main result of this article is that in countries and as well as in Pakistan time periods with a high propensity of government collapse, growth is significantly lower as otherwise. This effect remains strong and shows consequences of political instability to socio-economic policies, unequal distribution of wealth, corruption, unemployment, poverty, mental and physical health, internal external terrorism and poor family leadership.” This article explores the complex link between political instability and economic growth, emphasizing the definition of "political instability" as the propensity for the dissolution of the government. The central theme of our argument is the relationship between economic expansion and political instability. This study's main conclusion is that, in nations—Pakistan being one prominent example eras marked by a higher risk of political collapse tend to have far slower rates of economic growth than periods marked by greater stability. This research reveals the profound effects of political instability on socio-economic policies, highlighting its long-lasting influence. The consequences are multifaceted, including uneven economic distribution, widespread corruption, prolonged joblessness, high rates of poverty, and negative impacts on mental and physical health. Moreover, political unrest has a significant impact on the incidence of both domestic and foreign terrorism, making security issues worse in impacted areas. Additionally, the study clarifies how political instability undermines the authority of families and shatters the foundation of social systems. This paper offers a thorough examination of the complex effects of political instability, shedding light on how it affects numerous socioeconomic indicators and economic growth. Comprehending these processes is of paramount importance for policymakers, scholars, and international leaders who aim to tackle the obstacles presented by political instability and promote stable, robust communities.

Empowering Farmers for Economic Resilience with Agrinet’s Comprehensive Solutions

Abstract: In the realm of contemporary agriculture, where farmers grapple with multifaceted challenges such as unpredictable weather patterns and market fluctuations, our innovative solution stands out as a beacon of empowerment and resilience. We've seamlessly integrated cutting-edge technology with centuries of farming wisdom, fundamentally reshaping agricultural practices. Our comprehensive approach includes Native Language Support, breaking down linguistic barriers to ensure universal access to critical information. Our advanced weather forecasting equips farmers with up-to-the-minute meteorological data, enabling informed decisions and mitigating weather-related losses. Furthermore, our platform streamlines access to government support, enhancing overall farm productivity and sustainability. Additionally, our interactive discussion forum fosters knowledge sharing and mutual support, nurturing a sense of solidarity among farmers. In the complex fabric of agriculture, our mission is to furnish farmers with holistic tools, knowledge, and a robust community network, ushering in an era marked by prosperity, sustainability, and unwavering resilience in navigating the evolving agricultural landscape

Analysis of social networks and filtering of Arabic crime tweets based on an intelligent dictionary using a genetic algorithm

Preserving a robust online community poses a significant difficulty due to the unrestricted flexibility members have in expressing themselves and behaving. This issue can be remedied through the implementation of user behavior monitoring and analysis, followed by the implementation of suitable actions. The objective of this research is to develop an intelligent dictionary using the genetic algorithm to identify and categorize Twitter posts related to criminal activities by collecting data from tweets. Once the data is preserved, graph analysis techniques are employed to evaluate interactions between users. Next, the user behavior is analyzed using metadata analysis, whereby the chronology associated with each user profile is obtained. Furthermore, the study analyzes the behavioral patterns of users over time. Afterward, a method based on rules is used to create a structure for aspect-based analysis of sentiment. This method assesses the subjectivity of the input text, distinguishing between factual information and personal opinions. Additionally, transformer-based sentiment analysis determines whether the tweet evokes positive or negative sentiment. Furthermore, the task involves constructing a model that can accurately categorize a tweet based on its relevance to criminal activity. Ultimately, the intelligent dictionary is utilized to identify and isolate anomalous behavior by selecting provocative profiles. A Twitter profile exhibiting significant similarity with criminal cases presents a perilous risk to society.

Analysis of Ecotourism and Its Impact on Indigenous People and Environment: A Case of Dir Valley (Pakistan)

Tourism, particularly eco-tourism, promotes long-term development by supporting local economies while protecting ecosystems and culture. It also acts as a conservation catalyst, raising awareness about biodiversity and encouraging environmental stewardship. It promotes a greater understanding of nature through educational programs and programs, boosting support for conservation projects. This research investigates tourism's cultural, ecological, and socioeconomic ramifications from the viewpoint of the indigenous population in Dir, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan. A survey on ecotourism's socioeconomic impact involved 180 respondents across ten high-potential communities. Reliability was ensured using Cronbach's alpha coefficient. Varimax rotation clarified key findings: strong support (loading factor: .990) for population increase. Concerns included rising standard of living (loading factor: .776) and seasonal employment (loading factor: .819). Consensus (loading factor: .962) favored environmental conservation and community-based business opportunities. It also recommends robust policies, infrastructure investments, targeted marketing, community engagement, visitor facilitation, and hospitality among locals to promote tourist return visits.

Peran Komunitas Seni dan Budaya dalam Pengembangan Desa Mandiri Budaya di Desa Ekowisata Pancoh

Community-based tourism management precariously depends on a robust community, especially in tourist villages. Establishing an organizational framework characterized by effective coordination and well-defined member relationships strengthens the community and defines each individual's role and responsibility. To enhance the efficiency of the established structure, this study aims to investigate the function of the arts and cultural community within Pancoh Ecotourism Village and ascertain its capacity for further development as a Cultural Village. This study utilises a community development framework (Community Development Foundation, 2011) comprising six principles—common goals, cooperation, strengths and independence, equity and inclusiveness, participation, and community empowerment. Community representatives, village officials, tourism actors, and workers of Pancoh Ecotourism Village participated in a series of focus group discussions (FGD). Consequently, the inhabitants of Pancoh Ecotourism Village successfully established an organisational framework that catered to their requirements and unambiguously delineated every individual's specific duties and obligations. In addition, actors, tourism managers, and arts and culture community members can solicit diverse opportunities and curate cultural tour packages that feature renowned artistic and cultural attractions and products.

Radicalizing safety: A critical narrative analysis to abolish the police

AbstractThe dominant narrative in much of the world is that public safety is provided by policing, evidenced by supportive rhetoric from institutional forces including politicians, media, and large budget allocations in all levels of government. Alongside a long history of police violence, especially against Black, Brown, poor, and other marginalized people, many social movements reject the idea that policing provides safety and seek other methods for community wellness. The present study utilizes critical narrative analysis (CNA) to describe how marginalized residents of a small city in Iowa construct their understanding of personal and community safety. Their stories and the dialectic exchange during interviews illustrated several counternarratives and moments of conscientization for participants and researchers where safety was deconstructed and understood outside the power of recycled institutional narratives. Participants rejected popular notions of safety such as police, and instead embraced safety through robust relationships, community resources, and forms of self‐knowledge such as mental health. We analyzed their interviews as efforts to be humanly recognized within violent white supremacist structures, and their stories help to radicalize popular messages about safety. We highlight their world‐making abilities as they craft their own networks of community and safety outside of the state and police.

Multimodality Cardiac Imaging and the Imaging Workforce in the United States: Diversity, Disparities, and Future Directions.

Innovations in cardiac imaging have fundamentally advanced the understanding and treatment of cardiovascular disease. These advances in noninvasive cardiac imaging have also expanded the role of the cardiac imager and dramatically increased the demand for imagers who are cross-trained in multiple modalities. However, we hypothesize that there is significant variation in the availability of cardiac imaging expertise and a disparity in the adoption of advanced imaging technologies across the United States. To evaluate this, we have brought together the leaders of cardiovascular imaging societies, imaging trainees, as well as collaborated with national imaging accreditation commissions and imaging certification boards to assess the state of cardiac imaging and the diversity of the imaging workforce in the United States. Aggregate data confirm the presence of critical gaps, such as limited access to imaging and imaging expertise in rural communities, as well as disparities in the imaging workforce, notably among women and underrepresented minorities. Based on these results, we have proposed solutions to promote and maintain a robust and diverse community of cardiac imagers and improve equity and accessibility for cardiac imaging technologies.

Engagement of vulnerable communities in HIV prevention research in India: a qualitative investigation

BackgroundMeaningful community engagement (CE) in HIV prevention research is crucial for successful and ethically robust study implementation. We conducted a qualitative study to understand the current CE practices in HIV prevention research and to identify expressed and implicit reasons behind translational gaps highlighted by communities and researchers.MethodsFor this exploratory qualitative study, we recruited a purposive sample of participants from Indian government-recognised key populations such as men who have sex with men, transgender women, people who inject drugs and female sex workers; general population adults and adolescents/youth; and researchers. We conducted 13 virtual focus groups (n = 86) between July and October 2021. Data were explored from a critical realist perspective and framing analysis (i.e., examining how the participants framed the narratives).ResultsParticipants reported that study communities, especially those from key populations, were primarily involved in data collection, but not necessarily with optimal training. Involvement of communities before the start of the study (e.g., obtaining feedback on the study’s purpose/design) or once the study is completed (e.g., sharing of findings) were highlighted as priorities for meaningful engagement. Participants suggested meaningful CE in all stages of the study: (1) before the study—to get inputs in finalising the study design, drafting comprehensible informed consent forms and culturally-appropriate data collection tools, and deciding on appropriate monetary compensation; (2) during the study—adequate training of community field research staff; and (3) after the study—sharing the draft findings to get community inputs, and involving communities in advocacy activities towards converting evidence into action, policy or programs. Timely and transparent communications with communities were explicitly stated as critical for gaining and maintaining trust. Mutual respect, reciprocity (e.g., appropriate monetary compensation) and robust community feedback mechanisms were considered critical for meaningful CE. ConclusionsThe findings highlighted the translational gaps and priority areas for capacity building to strengthen CE in HIV prevention research. It is not only important to engage communities at various stages of research but to understand that trust, dignity, respect, and reciprocity are fundamentally preferred ways of meaningful community engagement.

ScMLC: an accurate and robust multiplex community detection method for single-cell multi-omics data.

Clustering cells based on single-cell multi-modal sequencing technologies provides an unprecedented opportunity to create high-resolution cell atlas, reveal cellular critical states and study health and diseases. However, effectively integrating different sequencing data for cell clustering remains a challenging task. Motivated by the successful application of Louvain in scRNA-seq data, we propose a single-cell multi-modal Louvain clustering framework, called scMLC, to tackle this problem. scMLC builds multiplex single- and cross-modal cell-to-cell networks to capture modal-specific and consistent information between modalities and then adopts a robust multiplex community detection method to obtain the reliable cell clusters. In comparison with 15 state-of-the-art clustering methods on seven real datasets simultaneously measuring gene expression and chromatin accessibility, scMLC achieves better accuracy and stability in most datasets. Synthetic results also indicate that the cell-network-based integration strategy of multi-omics data is superior to other strategies in terms of generalization. Moreover, scMLC is flexible and can be extended to single-cell sequencing data with more than two modalities.

Machine learning-assisted image label-free smartphone platform for rapid segmentation and robust multi-urinalysis.

This study presents a groundbreaking approach for the early detection of chronic kidney disease (CKD) and other urological disorders through an image-label-free, multi-dipstick identification method, eliminating the need for complex machinery, label libraries, or preset coordinates. Our research successfully identified reaction pads on 187 multi-dipsticks, each with 11 pads, leveraging machine learning algorithms trained on human urine data. This technique aims to surpass traditional colourimetric methods and concentration-colour curve fitting, offering more robust and precise community screening and home monitoring capabilities. The developed algorithms enhance the generalizability of machine learning models by extracting primary colours and correcting urine colours on each reaction pad. This method's cost-effectiveness and portability are significant, as it requires no additional equipment beyond a standard smartphone. The system's performance rivals professional medical equipment without auxiliary lighting or flash under regular indoor light conditions, effectively managing false positives and negatives across various categories with remarkable accuracy. In a controlled experimental setting, we found that random forest algorithms, based on a Bagging strategy and applied in the HSV colour space, showed optimal results in smartphone-assisted urinalysis. This study also introduces a novel urine colour correction method, significantly improving machine learning model performance. Additionally, ISO parameters were identified as crucial factors influencing the accuracy of smartphone-based urinalysis in the absence of additional lighting or optical configurations, highlighting the potential of this technology in low-resource settings.

Extremophile enzyme activity lab: using catalase from Pyrobaculum calidifontis to highlight temperature sensitivity and thermostable enzyme activity.

There are places on earth that are considered to possess extreme physico-chemical characteristics as they relate to life. Surprisingly, there are microbes that have adapted various strategies that enable them to form robust communities in these environments. The microbes that live in these environments, called extremophiles, are described as being thermophilic, psychrophilic, halophilic, acidophilic, alkaliphilic, barophilic, and so on. Given that extremophiles were not discovered until relatively recently due to a view point that the environments in which they inhabited were not conducive to life, it is reasonable to conclude that the concept of extremophiles may be hard to grasp for students. Herein is described a laboratory exercise adapted from laboratory exercises that use mesophilic catalase enzymes to illustrate the influence of physico-chemical parameters on enzyme activity. Catalase is an enzyme that accelerates the degradation of hydrogen peroxide to water and oxygen gas. In addition to mesophilic catalases, the catalase from Pyrobaculum calidifontis, a hyperthermophile with an optimal growth temperature of 90°C, is used to highlight the adaptation of an enzyme to an extreme environment. A visual comparison of bubble production by the hyperthermophilic and mesophilic enzymes after heating at high temperatures dramatically illustrates differences in thermostability that will likely reinforce concepts that are given in a pre-laboratory lecture that discusses not only the extremophiles themselves but also their applications in biotechnology and possible role in the field of astrobiology.