With the Gulf Coast threatened by the BP oil spill environmental disaster, there have been non-profits as well as concerned citizens who are applying their expertise in monitoring and mitigating this catastrophe.
We found a very cool site where the students launch high-altitude balloons as well as towed kites outfitted with cameras to get aerial imagery of the shifting slick in the Gulf, helping to monitor its position.
This is a great example of how kiting technologies can be utilized for research, education, and environmental applications.
Check it out at: http://unterbahn.com/