Mystic, CT- The Greater Mystic Chamber of Commerce recognizes Katherine Cuzco with Project Oceanology in our ‘Community Proud’ series sponsored by CorePlus Credit Union.  Kat has been a member of the Project Oceanology team since 2019. She became a full-time Marine Science Educator in 2022. She is a dedicated member of the team who brings her passion for the world's oceans and her MS in Environmental Ecology into her hands-on teaching.

“My position at Project O means growth and community involvement. As a marine science educator, I am able to encourage environmental conservation by working with diverse communities. What I love best about the community is the ability to support each other and overcome challenges. As a former New London High School student, I now have the privilege to give back to the community that saw me grow. Project O allows me to work with multilingual students and encourage their passion towards marine science and environmental conservation,” said Katherine.

In addition to teaching Marine Science, Kat is involved in many other aspects of Project Oceanology’s programs and work beyond the outdoor classroom: she teaches bi-lingual and Spanish-speaking students (she has even translated many of the materials that Project O uses to support their education into Spanish); she has supported scientific work on two long term projects - the Unified Water Study (monitoring the environmental health of Long Island Sounds bays and harbors) and the Lobster Trap Recovery and Assessment Partnership (identifying, removing, and studying abandoned lobster gear from the waters of Long Island Sound); she creates educational and engaging content for our social media.

About Project Oceanology

Project Oceanology is a non-profit education research facility dedicated to nurturing student and public interest and enthusiasm for marine sciences. Project Oceanology’s mission since 1972 has been to nurture interest and inspire enthusiasm for science and for our planet’s marine environment from the waterfront facility in Groton, Connecticut. Project Oceanology is a year-round, marine science educational organization governed by local school districts and in collaboration with universities and other educational institutions. 

Project Oceanology’s vision is to be the center of excellence for inquiry and place-based science and marine education serving the evolving needs of our global community. 

About the Greater Mystic Chamber of Commerce

The Greater Mystic Chamber of Commerce, for over 80 years, serves as the business voice for Groton, Stonington, and Mystic. Our mission is to advocate for business and tourism; to promote business alliances; to provide valuable benefits and services to our members; and to serve as a strong community partner in the economic development efforts in the Greater Mystic area. We sponsor and facilitate community events, promote local business and the regional tourism industry, are a resource for small business owners, provide opportunities to get involved with the community, and serve as an advocate for our members with local government.