Wazi Paha Festival at Oglala Lakota College
At the Wazi Paha Festival at Oglala Lakota College, the South Dakota Mines E-RISE BNERC team led an interactive outreach activity using Yellowstone hot spring pigments to teach students and families about thermophilic microbes, environmental adaptation, and the link between art and microbiology.
The Wazi Paha Festival, held annually at Oglala Lakota College, celebrates community, culture, and education across the Pine Ridge Reservation. This year, the E-RISE BNERC team from South Dakota Mines, Ph.D. students Rimjhim Sharma and Ishka Garg, participated with a hands-on science outreach activity inspired by Yellowstone National Park’s Grand Prismatic Spring.
At the E-RISE booth, visitors explored how the vivid color gradients of Yellowstone’s hot springs arise from different species of thermophilic microorganisms producing distinct pigments such as carotenoids and phycobiliproteins. These pigments protect cells from intense heat and light while enabling photosynthesis at varying temperatures. Through a creative coloring exercise, participants visualized how temperature and pigment diversity shape the rainbow patterns of microbial mats.
The booth attracted enthusiastic participation, with students and families asking thoughtful questions about microbes, pigments, and environmental adaptation. The activity effectively combined art and microbiology, transforming complex biochemical concepts into accessible learning moments.
Through this engagement, the E-RISE team strengthened the connection between scientific discovery and cultural learning, inspiring curiosity about the microbial world and its relevance to both natural ecosystems and modern biotechnology.