Marta Toran

Marta Toran serves as a Lecturer and Outreach Coordinator in the Department of Geological and Environmental Sciences at Appalachian State University. She teaches Introduction to Environmental Science (GES1010), Oceanography Lab (GES1105), and two First Year Seminars: 'Science and the Public' and 'Visualizing Environmental Science.'

With a background that includes teaching middle and high school science in both the UK and US, Marta brings extensive educational experience to her role. She holds an M.S. in Science Education from Montana State University, a PGCE in Science Education from Oxford University, and a B.S. from the University of New Hampshire.

Research and Outreach Focus

Marta Toran's professional focus centers on environmental science education and K-12 STEM outreach. Her work emphasizes making earth and environmental science accessible and engaging for younger students through:

• Development of standards-aligned educational materials
• Professional development for K-12 science teachers
• Mobile and on-campus educational experiences
• Creation of digital resources for classroom use

Key Outreach Programs

• Geobago Mobile Lab: A refurbished RV that brings earth science education directly to schools
• Rockin' NC: Educational materials about North Carolina's geological resources, developed with Vulcan Materials Company Foundation
• Deep Time Toolbox: Resources for teaching about fossils and geologic time, funded by the Paleontological Society of America
• McKinney Teaching Museum: Facilitating school visits to this campus resource

Professional Impact

Marta's outreach work has been featured in multiple publications highlighting Appalachian State's community partnerships to strengthen K-12 science education. Her initiatives have provided professional development for numerous educators and brought hands-on earth science experiences to thousands of students throughout the region.