On May 18, 2026, a small sea turtle crawled up onto Jupiter Beach in Palm Beach County and did something that, as far as researchers know, has never happened before in recorded history: she nested in Florida. Her name is Tini, and she’s an olive ridley sea turtle — a species that, until now, had …
Every year, as the final days of school wind down and the energy in the building shifts into that particular end-of-May chaos of finals, I do something that might look like I’m taking it easy: I put on Finding Nemo. But if you’ve sat in my classroom for a full year of marine science, you know …
One of my favorite things about teaching marine science is watching students find their own voice when it comes to ocean advocacy. This past unit, I offered an extra credit opportunity for students to express what they’d learned through art and the results genuinely blew me away! From paintings to sculptures to digital illustrations, these …
Imagine telling your students that today, they are an anglerfish. Not just learning about anglerfish — actually being one, flashlight in hand, hunting for a mate in the dark, flashing your species-specific bioluminescent signal while hoping the creature across from you speaks your language. The Problem that needs to be Solved Before I get into the chaos and the …
Read more “Deep Sea Speed Dating: A Lesson in Mating in the Deep”
Last weekend, I had the incredible opportunity to attend the Florida Marine Science Educators Association (FMSEA) annual conference, and honestly? It did not disappoint. From hands-on workshops to keynote speakers that left the whole room buzzing, this year’s conference was a reminder of why I love this community so much. Walking into a Whale Let’s …
Read more “FMSEA 2026: Connecting the Dots from Educators to Estuaries”
What does it look like when a high school student steps into the shoes of a marine conservationist? This spring, my Honors Marine Science students found out — and the results were nothing short of remarkable. Every year I look for a project that pushes students beyond memorizing vocabulary and into genuine scientific thinking. This …
Read more “When Students Become Scientists: Conservation in the Classroom”
There’s something so magical about getting up in the morning and knowing you’re going to do something fun, educational, and good for the planet. This weekend the Marine Science Club and I went out to Robinson Preserve to go paddle, sight see, and clean up the mangroves! For this wonderful adventure, we went to Robinson …
Taking a group of high schoolers on a field trip is always a bit of a gamble. You never quite know what’s going to land, what’s going to get eye rolls, or what’s going to spark that lightning bolt of curiosity you’ve been chasing all semester. Mote SEA? There were almost zero eye rolls. And …
Thanks to the support of the Tampa Bay Estuary Program Mini Grant, our students had the opportunity to step beyond the classroom and into the field aboard the research vessel R.V. Hogarth. This experience transformed abstract concepts into real-world science, giving students direct exposure to the tools, techniques, and professionals working to understand and protect Tampa …
Read more “From Source to Sea: Bringing Students onto the Bay”
What do you do when you have a nonnative animal inside your home or work and FWC doesn’t respond to you? You do research and figure it out with quality resources and background information what the most ethical and reasonable thing to do is!