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Jill Bartolotta | Ohio Sea Grant

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Jill Bartolotta

Extension Educator, Ohio Sea Grant College Program

About Bartolotta

 Jill Ferlinc Bartolotta

Jill Bartolotta

Extension Educator, Ohio Sea Grant College Program

Jill, Ohio Sea Grant Extension Educator for Ashtabula and Lake Counties, works with municipalities, scientists, and the public to collaboratively manage Lake Erie and its resources through research, outreach and education, and partnership development.


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EXPERTISE / SPECIALIZATIONS
  • Marine Debris
  • Ecosystem-Based Management
  • Aquatic Invasive Species (AIS)
  • Experiential Environmental Education
  • Coastal Resiliency

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 regards to research, funding, or scientific expertise, develop partnerships to foster a collaborative approach to 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. Jill 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.

Jill 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.

Professional memberships and committees include

  • Mentor Marsh Board of Management
  • Great Lakes Water Safety Consortium Advisory Council
  • Lake Erie College Environmental Science Advisory Board
  • National Marine Educators Association: Great Lakes Educators of Aquatic and Marine Sciences Chapter
  • International Association for Great Lakes Research
  • Ohio Joint Council of Extension Professionals
  • Epsilon Sigma Phi: Alpha Eta Chapter

Impacts and Accomplishments

AIS are a continuing issue in Lake Erie. Education on the prevention of further introduction or spread is addressed in the “Eerie Eight” lesson plan. Teachers expand upon the foundations introduced in the lesson to foster environmentally literate stewards.

To prevent the contamination and degradation of Lake Erie, Ohio Sea Grant is leading efforts to prevent and mitigate marine debris through pilot programs for trash removal technologies, development of award-winning education programs and products and development of internationally recognized behavior change research.