Jane Goodall speaks to a large crowd at Tropicana Field. Photos by Penh Alicandro ’22
Two Eckerd College professors stood inside St. Petersburg’s Tropicana Field stadium in September ready to inspire a new generation of citizen scientists and recruit them in the mission to keep Tampa Bay’s marine ecosystems healthy and plastic free.
During the Hope in Action: Youth Environment Summit, Professor of Marine Science and Biology Shannon Gowans, Ph.D., and Associate Professor for Marine Science Amy Siuda, Ph.D., led workshops from their “Inspiration Station” for youth on various experiments, such as conducting plastic audits in the lunchroom and modeling how to effectively lead a campaign on campus against single-use plastics in the school environment.
“There were 700 fourth-grade to 12th-grade students [that joined the summit during the day],” Siuda says.
To the young people visiting their table, Gowans and Siuda stressed the importance of how to go from an idea in action to gaining support from policymakers.
The duo had founded Reduce Single-Use Plastics at Eckerd College—a research initiative that helped Eckerd sign a Break Free From Plastic Pledge and launch an app called Remora that helps users track their plastic consumption.
Senior Tom Covington speaks to the public about single-use plastics and the Remora app.
The most crucial aspect of their messaging was to teach young people how to create longevity in their projects, and why schools should invest in students’ sustainable ideas.
Gowans says the event was organized around the appearance of legendary primatologist Jane Goodall, Ph.D., to help promote sustainable ideas to a new generation. “It was making connections between the groups and being able to share all of our stories with interested and excited people,” Gowans says.
In coordination with Eckerd’s Student Affairs Office and the Eckerd College Organization of Students, the professors made sure interested Eckerd students got the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to see Goodall in person.
Eckerd students who received free tickets from the College’s Campus Activities Office gathered to listen to Goodall speak about her experiences in research for conservation and sustainability for chimpanzees, as well as through the Roots & Shoots Alliance.
Goodall reminded students that the next wave of environmental leaders was in the room. “I have hope for the future because of you,” she said.
Left to right: Student Intern Rachel Smith ’25, Professor Gowans, Jane Goodall, Professor Siuda, Student Intern Carly Harshbarger ’26
“It was very impactful to see one of the first environmentalists supporting the newest generation,” says Gaby Hoenig, a sophomore marine science student from Rockville, Maryland.
Following the summit, in honor of Goodall’s “A Day of Action,” Gowans and Siuda held a Palm Hammock cleanup at Eckerd. Several alumni with families joined current students to pick up trash littering this forested coastal ecosystem on campus. And hope was put into action.
