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������ý’s Dr. Meghan Marrero, professor and co-director of the Center for STEM Education, recently represented the university at important events across New York City Climate Week. This included serving as a featured panelist at the 10th annual NYC Green Schools Conference, where she was honored with the prestigious Beacon of Blue Award in recognition of her dedicated leadership in ocean literacy and environmental education.

As the national coordinator for USA Blue Schools, a branch of the UNESCO-backed Blue Schools Global Network, Dr. Marrero joined the international panel “Green & Blue Schools for the Planet: Every School Can Act.” She shared the stage with sustainability education leaders from Costa Rica, the U.S. Virgin Islands and across the country to discuss empowering youth through hands-on environmental stewardship.

“It’s truly rewarding to be recognized, especially because this award reflects the hard work of all the dedicated teachers and students we collaborate with,” said Dr. Marrero. “Through the Blue Schools program, our goal is to give students the agency to make real environmental change in their own communities.”

She added that the USA Blue Schools program has reached approximately 11,000 students across 12 states during the last academic year alone. Participating schools implement student-driven "action projects" tailored to protect local waterways and promote sustainability.

Dr. Marrero’s Climate Week engagements also brought her to the United Nations General Assembly for the official opening of the “One Ocean” exhibit. The landmark exhibition is a collaborative initiative between UNESCO, the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC) and the Prada Group through the SEA BEYOND project, which has provided grant funding to support USA Blue Schools. The exhibit underscored the role of ocean literacy in addressing global climate resilience, earth health, and economic sustainability.

The connections and insights gained during NYC Climate Week will directly enhance STEM education programs at ������ý. Dr. Marrero plans to leverage these networks to support ������ý's upcoming Wipro-funded Climate Hub project, an initiative designed to train fellows and lead climate science education nationwide.

Additionally, the latest research and initiatives will directly benefit ������ý undergraduate and graduate students, including pre-service and in-service teachers pursuing STEM certificates who take Dr. Marrero’s oceanography and science education courses.

“At the Center for STEM Education, our core mission is outreach with kids, families and teachers,” Dr. Marrero noted. “Engaging with climate leaders at events like these allows us to bring cutting-edge resources back to our teachers, fellows and ������ý students who are preparing to educate the next generation of environmental stewards.”