ECP Welcomes Renowned Neuroscientist Lori Marino, Ph.D., as Ocean Health Advisor

ATLANTA, April 13, 2026 – The Educated Choices Program (ECP) is proud to announce the appointment of Lori Marino, Ph.D., as its new Ocean Health Advisor. Dr. Marino joins the ECP advisory board with thirty-five years of experience as a comparative neuroscientist studying brain evolution and behavior in dolphins, whales, primates, and various other species. As a leading expert on the complex issues surrounding wild animal captivity, she will provide invaluable insights to ECP’s mission of fostering a deeper understanding of our relationship with aquatic life and the environment.

"I am honored to join The Educated Choices Program as an Advisor. I am proud to assist in promoting a program based on empiricism, knowledge, and inclusion. Throughout my entire career, I have based my work and my advocacy for nonhuman animals on science and education.  Science forms the foundation of education, and education is necessary for transformation in thought and action." - Dr. Marino

Dr. Marino currently serves as the president of the Whale Sanctuary Project, the Director of The Kimmela Center for Scholarship-based Animal Advocacy, the Co-director of the Animal Law and Science Project at George Washington University, and an adjunct faculty member in Animal Studies at New York University.

"Dr. Lori Marino’s work has transformed how we understand marine animals. Bringing her expertise into ECP strengthens our mission to provide science-based education that empowers people to make choices that protect both human health and our oceans.” - ECP CEO & Founder Lorena Mucke.

As Ocean Health Advisor, Dr. Marino will provide scientific oversight and guidance on ECP’s educational materials related to marine ecosystems, helping to highlight the intelligence of aquatic species and the environmental importance of ocean conservation. Dr. Marino's expertise already supported the development of ECP's educational package, "Sea the Impact."

"The Educated Choices Program promotes the kind of empowerment that can only come from being educated about the reality behind our choices in life – choices about what to do, what to eat, how to treat those who are less powerful than us, and the kind of person we want to be regarded as. I am especially proud of their newest program, 'Sea The Impact,' which puts the focus on how our choices affect sentient beings who live in the sea." - Dr. Marino

Throughout her distinguished career, Dr. Marino has published over 150 peer-reviewed scientific papers, book chapters, and magazine articles. Her work explores critical topics such as animal ethics, self-awareness in other animals, and the evolving nature of human-animal relationships. She is a recent recipient of the 2026 Drake Award, which recognizes contributions in human understanding of intelligence on Earth and beyond, and applying that knowledge to foster meaningful scientific, ethical, and social change.

Dr. Marino’s appointment reinforces ECP’s commitment to providing evidence-based resources that have already reached over 3.7 million people across 71 countries. By integrating advanced scientific perspectives into its free digital library, ECP continues to equip global communities with the tools to make informed, impactful food choices.

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About Educated Choices Program

The Educated Choices Program is an award-winning 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that provides free food literacy education to equip students and community members with critical knowledge to improve human and planetary health. Its educational packages have been viewed by more than 3.7 million people across seventy-one countries and territories. Learn more at www.ecprogram.org.

Media Inquiries: Beth Champion, beth.champion@ecprogram.org

More information: www.ecprogram.org