NYC H2O Environmental Educators
Jonathan Turer develops content for physical and virtual tours. He is a long-time tour guide who has been fascinated with the city's water supply ever since he went to summer camp in the Catskill Mountains. While an environmental studies student at Connecticut College, he began talking to kids about nature while leading tours of the school's arboretum. Jonathan went on to earn degrees in photography (BFA) at School of Visual Arts, NYC and in fine arts (MFA) at Goldsmiths College, London. As a guide and as a writer, he is excited to inspire children and families about the built and natural world by combining his interest in NYC's infrastructure and history with a passion for storytelling.
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David Chuchuca (Assistant Director) outlines and writes our virtual content. He is a former microbiology graduate student who aims to communicate scientific research with the public. He received his B.S. in Biochemistry from Binghamton University and continued into graduate school to investigate microbial biofilms. After two years of research into biofilm dispersion, David left the lab bench to bridge the gap between dense scientific information and public understanding. Field trips offer a unique opportunity to directly interact with our communities in fun and memorable ways. He draws inspiration from the curiosity of our young citizen scientists.
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Christina Edsall oversees and edits our online content. She has been working in environmental and STEM education for almost a decade. She received her B.S. at University of California, Berkeley in environmental science. After spending 2 years of Peace Corps service in Panama, she stayed in Latin America and collaborated with local communities in areas of environmental conservation, public health and eco-tourism. She then moved to New York City to receive her M.A. in Environmental Education at New York University. She has a strong interest in biophilic design and the practice of culturally relevant pedagogy.
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Stalin Espinal is an ArcGIS developer and Brooklyn native with a background in Graphic Design and a passion for the environment. He received a Bachelor’s Degree in Urban Sustainability and Environmental Science from Brooklyn College. As an undergraduate, he worked on a project; which involved collaboration between organizations to develop and design maps and logo for an after school STEM program funded by the National Ocean Atmospheric Administration. He has a strong interest in green infrastructure, water ecology and environmental design, and he enjoys shaping young minds and sharing his passion for the environment.
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Amelia Zaino designs and develops GIS material for virtual tours. She is a graduate of CUNY Lehman College with a M.S. in Geographic Information Science. She has worked as an educator at various New York City institutions, including Wave Hill, the Bartow-Pell Mansion Museum, Lehman College, and LaGuardia Community College. Born and raised in the Bronx, she is fascinated with the world of urban ecology and loves introducing young people to the thriving world right outside their doors. Her specialty is incorporating maps, narratives, and visuals to engage the public from Pelham Bay to Jamaica Bay.
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