📅 Saturday, April 18, 2026
🕒 9:00 AM – 1:00 PM
📍 Place: Berkeley Electric Cooperative
2 Springhall Dr, Goose Creek, SC 29445
Overall Goal
Raise awareness, educate, and mobilize the community about the impact of toxic contaminants generated by human activities on the state’s rivers, beaches, forests, and wetlands—while promoting local mitigation solutions, legislation, and citizen monitoring.
Why This Forum?
Since colonial times, South Carolina’s wetlands have served as an ecological and cultural refuge, covering 21% of the state’s land area as of 1989. However, urban growth, intensive agriculture, and runoff have introduced toxic pollutants that disrupt food chains and threaten biodiversity.
At Mujeres Latinas de Carolina del Sur, we are leading environmental conservation efforts to combat ecotoxicity—the ability of human-made chemical pollutants to harm living organisms. This forum brings together experts, scientists, and community leaders to make invisible impacts visible and to develop strategies for monitoring, restoration, and inclusive education.
Speakers
Jeanmariht Cabrera
Jeanmariht Cabrera
Is the Vice President of the first Hispanic environmental nonprofit organization in South Carolina, dedicated to conservation and community well-being. With academic training in Civil Engineering, Business Administration, and Environmental Engineering and Management, she combines technical expertise with community leadership to drive impactful environmental action.
At the II Environmental Forum 2026, she will present:
“Community Leadership in the Face of Ecotoxicity: The Collective Power that Protects Life.”
In her presentation, Jeanmariht will explore how ecotoxicity affects both ecosystems and community well-being, and how collective action can create sustainable and meaningful change.
Sara McDonald, PhD
Director of Conservation at the South Carolina Aquarium, with extensive expertise in marine ecology, conservation biology, and environmental education.
Dr. McDonald holds a PhD in Marine Science and Conservation, with a focus on marine ecosystems, wildlife, and community-driven environmental solutions.
Forum Topic: Citizen Science: Empowering Communities in South Carolina and Beyond to Protect Our Ecosystems
In her presentation, she will explore how everyday people can take meaningful action to safeguard natural environments through science, collaboration, and community engagement.
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Sara McDonald PhD
Miriam Boucher
Miriam Boucher is a wildlife biologist and Ph.D.
Student at Clemson University in the Department of Forestry and Environmental Conservation. Her research focuses on alligators as environmental sentinels, studying contaminants such as microplastics and PFAS (“forever chemicals”) in wetlands across the southeastern United States.
At the II Environmental Forum 2026, she will present:
“Alligators as Environmental Sentinels: Tracking Plastic Pollution and Chemical Exposure in Our Ecosystems.”
In her presentation, Miriam will explain how analyzing contaminants in alligators helps identify areas of environmental risk and what this means for ecosystem health, water quality, and potential impacts on human health.
Geoffrey I. Scott, Ph.D.,
Is an environmental health scientist whose work focuses on the connection between ocean ecosystems and human well-being through the One Health framework, which recognizes that environmental, animal, and human health are deeply interconnected.
At the II Environmental Forum 2026, he will present:
“Oceans and Human Health: A One Health Issue Whose Time Has Come.”
In his presentation, Dr. Scott will explore how environmental stressors such as harmful algal blooms, antibiotic-resistant bacteria, climate change, and microplastics affect both ocean ecosystems and human health, highlighting growing risks to seafood safety, water quality, and community well-being.
Dr. Geoffrey I. Scott
Tony Bartelme.
Tony Bartelme.
Is an award-winning environmental journalist known for translating complex climate and science issues into powerful stories that connect with everyday life.
At the II Environmental Forum 2026, he will present:
“The Importance of Wonder in Science and Life.”
In his presentation, Tony will highlight overlooked climate challenges — including how Greenland’s ice affects flooding in the Lowcountry, the vital role of ocean microbes in sustaining life, and why beauty and curiosity are essential to environmental awareness and action.
Sponsors
