Lake Erie Science Series: Marine Debris

Learn more about Marine Debris with Jill Bartolotta in this Lake Erie Science Series program on Tuesday, July 11 at 1:30 p.m. on the Train Station patio.

Jill Bartolotta is the Ohio Sea Grant College Program Extension Educator for Lake and Ashtabula Counties. She works with communities to conduct outreach and education about Lake Erie, identify community needs in regard to research, funding, or scientific expertise, develop partnerships to foster a collaborative approach to the management of natural resource issues and bring science into the decision-making process at the individual and community level.

Her areas of focus include experiential environmental education, marine debris, wildlife ecology, climate change impacts on coastal communities, interdisciplinary approach to problem-solving, engagement of relevant stakeholders, contextual mapping, and use of science in the decision-making process. Bartolotta offers formal and informal education opportunities for a variety of audiences on topics such as marine debris, nutrient loading, shoreline processes, and aquatic invasive species. Other learning opportunities include field trip presentations and beach cleanups.

Bartolotta earned a dual B.S. in wildlife ecology and outdoor education with a minor in marine biology from the University of New Hampshire in 2012. She continued her studies at UNH by earning a M.S. in Integrated Coastal Ecosystem Science, Policy, and Management in 2015.

She holds certifications in Basic SCUBA from NAUI, Leave No Trace Trainer from the Leave No Trace Center for Outdoor Ethics, Ohio Boating Education Course from the ODNR-Division of Watercraft, and Level 1 QDC/HWP Training from Ohio EPA.