My name is Marcos Magaña, and I was born in the Eastern Coachella Valley, California. During the seven years I’ve spent at UCLA, I’ve focused on centering research topics that matter to me and my community. As I begin my PhD research, I aim to investigate and expand discussions around extreme heat by analyzing the biosocial factors shaping the experiences of marginalized communities most affected by this issue. Additionally, I seek to critically engage with desert environments alongside heat research, reframing deserts as sources of knowledge and lived experience rather than barren landscapes. My goal is to explore how we can learn from these environments, where heat has always been a defining aspect of life