When Angela Teeple stepped off the plane in San Diego from Bay Mills Indian community earlier this year, she was not just here for the sunshine. The PhD candidate in Medical Physics at the University of Minnesota Medical School came to attend a workshop hosted by Mothers for Nuclear, Native Nuclear, and NC State, bringing with her a mission that bridges cutting-edge science and community resilience. In rooms filled with scientists, policymakers, and California residents, Teeple listened as people shared their visions for protecting the state’s water and nuclear infrastructure.
In the midst of these discussions about California’s energy and environmental future, Teeple introduced a story rooted thousands of miles away, in the waters of Indigenous lands. She spoke about Nibi-Clear, the Indigenous-led water testing initiative she founded, which uses advanced scientific analysis to detect contaminants long before federal testing would. What began as a personal mission has grown into a program serving seven tribes across the United States, providing communities with the data they need to protect their health, assert sovereignty over their water, and take decisive action.
Nibi-Clear delivers independent, high-precision water quality testing using nuclear technology to identify contaminants at trace levels. The results not only provide scientific clarity but also empower tribal governments to make decisions based on their own environmental standards. Since its inception, the program has detected early signs of contamination missed by federal testing, prompted filtration projects, policy changes, and most importantly, the prevention of long-term health impacts.
Teeple’s path to this work is defined by both technical expertise and interdisciplinary vision. After earning her BS in Mechanical and Nuclear Engineering from Kansas State University in 2018, she completed a Master’s in Legal Studies in Indigenous Peoples’ Law and Policy from the University of Oklahoma in 2021. She has merged this legal insight with her engineering background to confront environmental challenges in Indian Country. Her current PhD research focuses on portable MRI systems, developing advanced imaging techniques that can improve diagnostic accuracy while lowering costs.
Even with a demanding research schedule, Teeple remains committed to STEM outreach, speaking at universities and conferences, mentoring young Indigenous scientists, and inspiring the next generation to see science as a tool for empowerment.
Looking ahead, she plans to expand Nibi-Clear’s reach to more tribal communities, introduce mobile testing units, and continue bridging the gap between advanced technology and community-led solutions. “I’ve seen firsthand the difference it makes when communities have access to their own data,” Teeple says. “Whether in water or in health, having the right information is power and my goal is to keep putting that power in the hands of the people who need it most.”
