I am Professor Mazzillo, and I am honored to be your instructor this semester. Teaching oceanography is my passion and my ultimate goal is to develop ocean literacy.  For the spring of 2023, I will be teaching three online courses: two sections of oceanography lecture (OCAN1) and the oceanography lab course (OCAN1L). I will try to make these courses as real and relevant as possible, using videos, communicating with you frequently and applying the topics studied to the local context of San Francisco Bay or Monterey Bay.  With that, I hope to engage you in the wonders of the ocean!

I have been a teacher for the past 9 years and I enjoy learning and studying the ocean with my classes. During my doctoral studies, I spent time examining the marine microalgae  (phytoplankton) of the California Current System. Specifically, I studied how some of these microalgae can form harmful algal blooms, that may discolor the surface of the seawater and propagate toxins in the marine food web. As a postdoc, I researched the charismatic California sea otters and promoted knowledge to secure the health of  their population.  I  also have a Masters degree in Marine Biodiversity and Conservation where I studied the design of Marine Protected Areas in coral reef ecosystems with the NGO Conservation International, Brazil.  Sharing my research experience with my students is a must in my classes!