Ocean and You
science - education - storytelling
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Personal History

After seven years teaching college-level introductory oceanography, I followed my passion for education. Ocean and You has been providing marine and environmental education to grades K-12 since early 2009.

I am an Oakland native and a UC Berkeley graduate. My love of the ocean led me to sea with the NOAA Corps of Commissioned officers, and eventually to a Ph.D. at the University of Washington.

I have conducted observational research in some of my favorite places: Puget Sound, the Columbia River entrance channel, the southern California coast, and Pamlico Sound, North Carolina. My work is inspired by environmental issues such as sewage treatment and oyster restoration.

My mission is provide students with the tools they need to make informed decisions about the ocean. To support this mission, I conduct research on Ocean Literacy. My college students taught me what interests them and what gaps they have in their understanding of the ocean. Some Ocean and You exercises grew out of this research.

As well as an oceanographer and a science educator, I am a professional storyteller and the mom of a great 4th grader.

Useful Links

Kids' Comments on My Teaching

Being a scientist is fun!

I learned that we can’t live without the ocean

[I learned that] the water goes all around the world

I liked the story and the animals and coloring!

I hope you come back next year! Will you?

Teachers' Comments on My Teaching

[My students] were attentive and full of questions. ... I have never seen them so focused!!

You guys have been so wonderful! I am looking forward to next week!!

Lively, engaging and humorous ...

You have a real talent for communicating with children and getting them excited about science.

College Students' Comments

what I truly recall about Dr. Cudaback's class is just how excited I was to attend each session. ... It is ironic that, considering the highly beneficial education methodology courses I took at NC State, I look to one of my science professors as a model of how best to teach others.

She held captive the attention of each student in the classroom; indeed a rare occurrence at the collegiate level.


Reference Letters


Ocean And You, 2630 Carisbrook Dr, Oakland, CA, 94611
Cynthia@OceanAndYou.com 510-808-4075