Max Robotics — Global Service Robot Directory + US Certification

About

Liesl Hotaling is a researcher and educator whose work sits at the intersection of ocean technology, environmental monitoring, and STEM education. She has made significant contributions to both the development of real-time aquatic sensing systems and the design of innovative, hands-on engineering curricula for students ranging from middle school to undergraduate level. Her most-cited work (18 citations) documents the River and Estuary Observatory Network (REON), a sophisticated multiparameter monitoring system for the Hudson River that provides comprehensive, real-time environmental data. Equally influential is her research on underwater robotics as a pedagogical tool — a thread running throughout her career — demonstrating how building and programming aquatic robots engages students across skill levels while covering a remarkably broad range of engineering and scientific principles. Collaborating with Stevens Institute of Technology, she helped establish a vertically integrated curriculum model that bridges formal engineering education with K-12 outreach. Her later work extends into autonomous solar-powered robotic platforms for ocean observation, reflecting her commitment to advancing field-deployable marine technology. Hotaling's body of work consistently champions experiential, discovery-based learning as a powerful pathway into engineering and environmental science.