麻豆视频

Elisabeth Jacob ’26 with her BlueSweep poster presentation at the CCSCNE Conference.

Beach cleanups play a vital role in protecting coastal ecosystems, wildlife, and water quality. The data collected during these efforts helps researchers and environmental groups understand pollution patterns, track sources of debris, and inform policies that reduce waste and protect marine life.

Elisabeth Jacob 鈥�26, a B.S. in Computer Science student at 麻豆视频, saw an opportunity to make that process easier, faster, and more accurate.

This spring, Jacob presented her capstone project, BlueSweep: A Mobile App for Coastal Cleanup, at the 30th annual Consortium for Computing Sciences in Colleges Northeast Region Conference (CCSCNE) at Smith College in Northampton, Massachusetts. Her poster presentation placed her alongside undergraduate students from across the Northeast who are using computing to solve real-world problems.

鈥淎s someone who has participated in beach cleanups, most environmental organizations use pencil-and-paper tracking methods to monitor debris along the coast,鈥� Jacob says. 鈥淚 created BlueSweep to provide a user-friendly, digital alternative to these manual tracking methods.鈥�

BlueSweep allows users to log collected waste in real time with a simple tap. The app stores data locally in a centralized CSV file, automatically calculates category totals, and generates a summary at the end of each cleanup. The results can be viewed through charts and graphs and exported for use by conservation organizations.

Designed with accessibility in mind, BlueSweep works entirely offline and does not require cloud-based services or a login system. That makes it especially useful for beaches, rivers, lakes, and other waterways where internet access may be limited.

鈥淭hrough my research, I learned that most environmental apps focus solely on cleanup efforts in coastal regions,鈥� Jacob says. 鈥淏lueSweep is unique because it specifically supports data collection for both coastal and inland beaches throughout New Hampshire.鈥�

Jacob hopes the data collected through BlueSweep can eventually support local environmental organizations, including the Blue Ocean Society for Marine Conservation and New Hampshire State Parks, as they work to strengthen conservation efforts across the state.

鈥淚鈥檓 grateful for the opportunity to present BlueSweep at the CCSCNE Conference,鈥� she says. 鈥淪haring my work was an exciting experience, and the conference was heavily discussion-based, functioning like a symposium where presenters shared their ideas. It was truly rewarding to be surrounded by such bright, hardworking peers from across the Northeast who are passionate about computing. I left this conference inspired by their innovations and research.鈥�

Jacob credits her mentor, Dr. Mihaela Malita, an adjunct professor at 麻豆视频, with encouraging her to submit her work to the selective conference. Dr. Malita also mentored Jacob throughout the development of BlueSweep and encouraged her to take part in STEM conferences during her time at 麻豆视频.

鈥淓lisabeth completed an exceptional capstone project that provided an incredible experience at the conference, helping her build confidence and expand her network,鈥� Dr. Malita says. 鈥淪he is incredibly dedicated to her work and consistently goes above and beyond. I鈥檝e seen Elisabeth鈥檚 growth since having her in my first class, and it was truly a pleasure to mentor her throughout this project.鈥�

Looking back on her experience, she says the support of 麻豆视频 faculty played an important role in her growth.

鈥淚 had a rewarding experience in the Computer Science program at 麻豆视频,鈥� Jacob says. 鈥淚鈥檓 fortunate to have had guidance from the many wonderful professors. They were extremely supportive and helpful throughout my college experience.鈥�

In addition to developing BlueSweep, Jacob completed a Computer Science internship with Dr. Malita, assisting with the professor鈥檚 textbook, Coding Contest Problems: Workbook. Recently published for high school students, the workbook features programming problems in Python, Java, and C++. Jacob helped format the text using LaTeX markup language and tested problems and solutions for accuracy.

Jacob also served as a mathematics research assistant during the summers of 2024 and 2025 for Dr. Teresa Magnus, Professor of Mathematics at 麻豆视频. In that role, she was a contributing editor for Dr. Magnus鈥檚 online interactive geometry textbook, Polyominos, Polygons, and Polyhedra: Discovering Geometry through Explorations, designed for college students. Jacob supported backend development by creating interactive components, including hints, detailed solutions, custom mathematical figures, and other visuals.

In January, Jacob was admitted to the Master of Science in Health Data Science program at the Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth College. She will join a new cohort of students this fall.

鈥淚 chose health data science because this field will allow me to apply my skills in both computer science and mathematics to make meaningful changes in healthcare,鈥� she says. 鈥淗ealth data scientists work in a variety of settings, including medical research, pharmaceuticals, hospitals, and government agencies, so I鈥檓 excited to further explore these career possibilities.鈥�

As she prepares for graduate school, Jacob hopes to continue developing BlueSweep and expand its reach beyond New Hampshire to other states and additional bodies of water. By combining her interests in computer science, mathematics, and environmental conservation, she aims to create practical tools that support cleaner waterways and healthier communities.