Marine Debris Community Action Coalition Eco-Ambassador Project

Are you a middle or high school student interested in helping the environment? Do you want to help with scientific research and make a difference in your community at the same time? Become an ECO AMBASSADOR! Be part of the solution! Participate in community science to address the growing microplastic pollution problem in New Jersey and New York. Check out the interest form link below to learn more about or join other Eco Ambassadors participating in Community Science to Address Microplastics Pollution in the New York/New Jersey area!

You will get an opportunity to learn about the microplastics issue in your surrounding areas through hands-on, first-hand experience. Your activities may include collecting water samples, testing the samples in a lab, analyzing results, creating presentations using digital StoryMaps to communicate your activities, and sharing your findings with your friends, schools, and communities.

If you would like to know more about the project and become a participant, please use the following link to complete an interest form: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSc6DdA_5qaE0M2ecbNIT-YiTQQQSRoGR-jaaYQWc2nEWzW9Vw/viewform?usp=sharing

This project builds upon Columbia University Center for Sustainable Development’s Eco Ambassador Program that equips youth participants with scientific knowledge and skills to promote circular economy, via development of solutions for mitigating plastic use and establishment of sustainable solutions for management and stewardship of plastic waste within their communities. The project is a collaborative effort with New Jersey Sea Grant Consortium (NJSGC) and New York Sea Grant (NYSG) to not only develop timely and effective marine debris curricula but to also expand environmental literacy in communities in New Jersey and New York urban watersheds.

More background on this project can be found at https://edsd.csd.columbia.edu/content/2023-2024-become-eco-ambassador