One of the most important things educators can do for the environment is instilling a sense of curiosity within students… When students are encouraged to ask why things are the way they are, they begin to see themselves as active participants in the world, not just observers. – Emily Hazelwood
Today, the environment is one of the topics at the forefront of global conversations, demanding impactful action and education. This post explores the inspiring journeys of three remarkable environmentalists—Amber Sparks, Emily Hazelwood, and George Kourounis—who have dedicated their lives to environmental science and exploration. Amber and Emily, co-founders of the Blue Latitudes Foundation, transform retired oil platforms into vibrant artificial reefs. George, a renowned global adventurer and television presenter, documents extreme natural phenomena.
Read their stories and insights as they highlight ways students can engage in environmental science and underscore the importance of passion, curiosity and resilience.
Can you share your journey and what inspired you to focus on the environment?
Amber Sparks
Growing up in Laguna Beach, California, the tidal zone was the only playground I cared for. In local tide pools, my siblings and I could often be found turning over rocks and jumping through blowholes. The ocean remained a constant in my life, calling me to her like so many before me. In high school, I took a marine ecology class and started volunteering at the Dana Point Institute of Oceanography. It is here, while trawling for surface diatoms and examining them under microscopes and walking along the rocky intertidal to count sea urchins, that my interests in the ocean developed into a scholastic passion. Attending UC Berkeley and Scripps Institution of Oceanography afforded me the opportunity to channel this academic curiosity into a lifelong career in ocean exploration.
Emily Hazelwood
I come from a family of scuba divers who from a young age supported my passion and curiosity for the sea, encouraging me to get scuba certified by the age of 12. As I grew older, that passion evolved into academic curiosity, through my studies at Connecticut College, and eventually led to my first job, working as an environmental field technician in the Gulf of Mexico following the events of the 2010 British Petroleum oil spill. The spill covered over 1,300 miles of the Gulf Coast in oil and threatened not only the physical, economic and food security of the Gulf’s communities, but also resources for businesses worldwide. Never had I so acutely bore witness to the devastating impacts of humankind on our oceans, and this experience would go on to shape my career path. However, my time spent in the Gulf of Mexico also enlightened me to humankind’s capacity for creativity and hope. It’s where I first learned about the Rigs to Reefs (RtR) program, where retired oil platforms are repurposed and given new life as artificial reefs, and where I began to think differently about ocean conservation. The RtR concept fascinated me; how could a structure capable of such intense environmental degradation also be capable of supporting marine life in a positive way?
George Kourounis
My hero growing up was ocean explorer Jacques Cousteau. I loved how he and his team discovered so much about our oceans, and then shared what they’d found through films, books and TV shows. I wanted to do something similar, but focusing on extreme natural phenomena like severe weather, tornadoes, hurricanes, volcanoes and the effects of climate change. I was working a job as a recording studio engineer, and I started chasing storms in my spare time. I eventually branched out into documenting all forms of natural phenomena, and I got my big break when I started making TV shows about nature and exploration.
How do you think Earth Day can be used as a platform to inspire young people to pursue careers in environmental science and exploration?
Emily: Earth Day is a celebration of our world and the natural environment therein. It’s a great opportunity to understand the careers that are dedicated to protecting and exploring it. By highlighting the work of environmental scientists, marine biologists, conservationists, and climate researchers, Earth Day can show young people that there are real, meaningful career paths where they can make a difference. Events like school-sponsored beach clean-ups, guest speakers, and hands-on activities like nature walks and demonstrations can help students connect what they’re learning in class to actual jobs in the field. It’s about showing them that caring for the Earth isn’t just a passion—it can be a profession too.
George: Earth Day serves as a way of focusing attention on the environmental issues we face and having a special day to recognize this can help to inform and inspire students to get interested in conservation or environmental studies. You can make a career out of almost anything, I’m living proof of that. I never dreamed I’d be able to make a living by being an explorer, but all it took was a little inspiration, and my willingness to work hard at it.
What role do you see for educators in fostering a sense of curiosity and responsibility towards the environment among students?
Emily: I think one of the most important things educators can do for the environment is instilling a sense of curiosity within students. Encouraging students to question why the world is the way it is. When students are encouraged to ask why things are the way they are, they begin to see themselves as active participants in the world, not just observers. That shift is key to developing both understanding and a sense of responsibility.
George: I remember my high school geography teacher. He was a role model for me, and without his encouragement I don’t know I would be where I am today. Teachers do so much more than educate, their enthusiasm can be contagious, and enthusiastic teachers make for enthusiastic and curious students. Those are the students that will go on to make huge impacts in their field. Curiosity and fear are opposites. If you have enough curiosity, you can overcome any fear.
What role do you believe technology plays in enhancing environmental education?
Amber: Technology has transformed how we connect people, especially students, with the Oceans. Through immersive tools like Virtual Reality (VR), remotely operated vehicles (ROVs), and interactive digital platforms, we can bring marine ecosystems, coral reefs, and deep-sea exploration into classrooms, no matter where they are. At Blue Latitudes Foundation, we use 360° video footage and VR headsets to give students a front-row seat to ocean environments they might never otherwise experience. These technologies help spark curiosity, make science more tangible, and inspire the next generation to care deeply about protecting our planet.
George: Young people love technology and are hungry for the latest and greatest tech. Therefore, in order to be an effective teacher of modern students, it’s critical to keep up with them by incorporating the latest trends and technological advances in their education.
How do you encourage students to take actionable steps towards sustainability in their daily lives?
Amber: It starts with showing students that small actions add up. Whether it’s reducing single-use plastics, conserving water, or making sustainable seafood choices, we emphasize that daily habits matter. I also encourage students to learn about their local environment, what’s in their backyard, coastline, or watershed, and find ways to get involved, like joining a clean-up or starting a school garden. When students feel a sense of place and purpose, sustainability becomes personal and that’s when real change starts to happen.
George: Every little action adds up. Today’s generation of students are the most environmentally aware in our history. Each choice they make is a vote for the adult they will eventually become. Small steps lead them towards a future as the business leaders, policy makers and environmental visionaries that will shape our world. Instill the idea that we are all stewards of our planet at an early age, and those ideas set deep roots that last a lifetime.