Marine Debris Community Action Coalition: Eco-Ambassador Solutions Lab

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!

The Eco Ambassadors Solutions Lab is a dynamic and immersive virtual initiative designed for high school students passionate about environmental sustainability, global citizenship, and technical skills development. This global eight-week program aims to empower students with a comprehensive understanding of local sustainability challenges and their intersection with Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Through a blend of interactive virtual sessions, digital hands-on activities, and technical training, students will explore geospatial technologies and data-driven research, global citizenship, sustainable development, digital storytelling, and engage with experts while gaining valuable insights into how these tools and knowledge can be leveraged for achieving sustainability.

The theme for this year’s program is “Ocean, Rivers, and Water Bodies in Our Backyard”, centering around SDG 6, SDG 13, and SDG 14, and is sponsored by New Jersey Sea Grant Consortium. We invite students keen on delving into water and micro-plastic science, engaging with experts, students, policymakers, and more to apply for this enlightening program. The program is entirely virtual and is provided free of charge for participating students. Final projects/solutions are required to be submitted in the ArcGIS StoryMap format, and licenses will be awarded to students who actively participate in the sessions.

Complete this registration form by May 31, 2024 to apply to the 2024 Eco Ambassadors Solutions Lab run by the Center for Sustainable Development (CSD) of the Climate School at Columbia University and SDGs.  You can review previous years’ programs at https://sdgstoday.org/eco-ambassadors-program.

Through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, our nation is investing in transformational projects in climate, energy and the environment, and as a result NOAA has tasked Sea Grant with working towards creating clean and safe water for all citizens through marine debris prevention and removal efforts. This project builds upon Columbia University Center for Sustainable Development’s Eco-Ambassador Solutions Lab / 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.