Mahala Herron-Rutland is a third-year UCLA student currently majoring in comparative literature and minoring in environmental science. From Oakland California, Mahala has always had an interest in planetary issues, specifically global warming. She even started a global warming club in the 3rd grade. Mahala is overjoyed for this to be her 2nd year in the lab. Her first year she studied paleoaltimetry of the Tibetan plateau, and this year she is more focused on science communication and how geology and environmental issues relate to music with an emphasis on how to make environmental issues mainstream. Upon graduation in 2020, Mahala hopes to either work in the science communication field or the music industry, nevertheless working to make science an accessible language to all people.