Teresa J. Kennedy

Associated Affiliate Professor

Email: tkennedy@uttyler.edu
Department: Chemistry & Biochemistry

Oceanographic Research

• National Marine Educators Association (NMEA) Co-Chair, International Committee, 2026-present.
• ODFW Marine Reserves Biological Assistant: Cascade Head and Cape Perpetua, 2026-present.
• United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC) Co-Chair, Ocean Decade Task Group, 2023-2026.
• Editor, 2026 Springer Nature 3-Volume Book—Ocean Literacy: The Foundation for the Success of the Ocean Decade (65 chapters; over 250 authors; 42 countries/regions).
  • Volume 1: Transforming Education, Research, and Engagement
  • Volume 2: Fostering Community, the Blue Economy, and the Arts
  • Volume 3: Accelerating Communication, Technology, and Global Initiatives
• Co-led the writing and production of the UNESCO Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission Ocean Decade Manual for Non-governmental Organizations (2024)
• Chapter Author: Advancing Ocean Sustainability for Climate-Resistant Change
• National Science Teaching Association (NSTA) & National Marine Educators Association (NMEA) joint position statement on The Importance of Teaching and Learning about the Ocean (2025) (contributing writing team member).

Oceanographic Activities

• GO-SHIP A13.5 CTD Watchstander, February–March 2024 (this research cruise transited from Cape Verde to the Gulf of Ghana, followed by gathering data along the A13.5 south to near Bouvet Island, completing 113 stations and traveling over 6,000 km). Served on the science team with scientists from the NOAA Pacific Marine Environmental Laboratory (PMEL), Earth and Space Research (ESR), Scripts Institution of Oceanography San Diego, among others.
  • Responsibilities: Tasked with operating the CTD (a "package" of electronic devices that detect how the conductivity and temperature of water changes relative to depth) computer console using measurements to direct the winch operator throughout casts to collect the ship's water samples by remotely closing bottles on the CTD rosette at 24 predetermined depths; organized and monitored eight analysts taking water samples; served as a member of the scientific research team sampling salinity as well as nitrate and seawater isotope composition; coordinated blog communications; and assisted with the school outreach component of the GO-BGC Adopt-a-Float program. For more information see: 2024 GO-SHIP A13.5
  • Vessel: R/V Marcus G. Langseth - National Science Foundation (NSF) ship (235ft.) operated by Columbia University's Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory (LDEO) with NOAA's Pacific Marine Environmental Laboratory (PMEL) and Scripps Institute of Oceanography.
• Verhoef FL50 Aluminium Freefall Lifeboat Droptest research. Verhoef Aluminium Scheepsbouw Industries, Aalsmeer, Netherlands, 2013. University of Texas at Tyler College of Engineering research on deformation and acceleration force of Verhoef Free-Fall Lifeboats.
  • Responsibilities: Conducted sensor placement in lifeboats on platform (40 meters/131 feet high) prior to drop testing.
• NOAA Teacher at Sea Scholar: May-June 2001 (San Diego, California to near Newport, Oregon, and across the Pacific to Honolulu, Hawaii). Science team from NASA, NOAA, and Knudsen Engineering (Canada).
  • Responsibilities: Conducted research on phytoplankton blooms along the California coast, observed CTD deck operations, and assisted with testing the effectiveness of a new echo sounder model while recording digital tracking data of the Ocean floor.
  • Vessel: R/V Ocean Seeker - Ka'imimoana - National Oceanic and Atmospheric Adminstration (NOAA) ship (224 ft.) dedicated to climate research, and studying Ocean currents and marine ecosystems through its support of NOAA's Tropical Atmospheric-Ocean (TAO) Project.