Jennifer Porcheddu is a dedicated marine and environmental science teacher in New York City. She is passionate about fostering a deeper understanding of our planet’s delicate ecosystems, and inspiring students to be hopeful and take action for the Earth. Jennifer is particularly excited to help develop ocean and coastal acidification curricula through MACAN; with a personal connection to Jamaica Bay, she is particularly committed to coastal health. Her teaching and curriculum development is informed by previous research experience in salt marsh ecology and citizen science projects, and she looks forward to sharing MACAN’s coastal acidification curriculum.

The Mid-Atlantic Coastal Acidification Curriculum was developed in partnership with the Chesapeake Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve (CBNERR-VA) in 2021. Through MACAN’s education fellowship and with mentorship from MACAN and the CBNERR, Jennifer updated all five curriculum modules to meet Next Generation Science Standards and outlined options for differentiation and assessment. She incorporated teacher feedback from recent Teachers on the Estuary (TOTES) workshops and professional development workshops hosted by the New York Department of Environmental Conservation, and created a new lesson focused on data discovery and the biological impacts of ocean acidification on bay scallops. As part of this webinar, you will get to experience this new interactive lesson plan. Jennifer presented this updated curriculum to high school teachers and informal science educators at the National Marine Educators Association conference this past summer, and she is excited to now share her work with you!