Madison was raised in Napa, California, and her love of the ocean grew over time with every adventure along the California coast. Pursuing a B.S in Environmental Science with a concentration in Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences, she has been continuously passionate about mitigating the effects of global climate change. In her free time she enjoys playing tennis and volleyball, and never turns down a road trip.

Ka Hei Ng spent his undergrad at UCLA as an exchange student studying environmental science and oceanography. He was the main GIS analyst for our team, and spent the year polishing his skills as a professional researcher and oceanographic GIS analyst.

Emily was born and raised in South Pasadena, CA. Her fascination with the ocean began at a young age when she would take annual trips to Hawaii. Snorkeling through the reefs furthered Emily's interest in the ocean. Before transferring to UCLA, Emily attended Pasadena City College where she had done previous work studying the effects of ocean acidification in Isla Vista. She was very excited to work with The Bay Foundation and continue learning about marine vegetation restoration and ocean acidification. While pursuing a B.S in Environmental science, Emily also minors in Environmental Systems & Society, and hopes to pursue a career in law.

Lily is an environmental scientist who graduated from UCLA. She has a passion for snorkeling and scuba diving. Her love of the marine world fuled her passion for this project. She dreams of swiming with sharks and living along the coast.

Rachel is a environmental scientist at UCLA, who loves the ocean and eating ice cream on rooftops. She is passionate about environmental science but she is also an aspiring film maker.

Growing up in Southern California, I have always been intrigued by the vastness and the mysteries of the ocean.When I am not in school I really enjoy going hiking and spending as much time at the beach as I can. During my time here at UCLA I pursued a B.S. in Environmental Science and minor in Conservation Biology as I have a passion for protecting species and most importantly the habitats they live in. I worked directly in the Success Quantification group for The Bay Foundation Practicum Team, creating a tool for quantifying the success of eelgrass restoration projects.

Having grown up in Connecticut, Connor has always had an affinity for coastlines which compelled him to dive into oceanic research at UCLA. While he pursues a B.S. in Environmental Science, Connor also minors in Environmental Systems & Society as his passions revolve around system modelling and data analysis in the context of environmental remediation. Connor is a member of the UCLA Rugby team and always enjoys outdoor activities, whether it be on land or out at sea.

Originally from Colorado, Carter has been striving to get to the coast most of his life. As an avid diver and photographer he realized how much needed to be done to save our oceans. Pursuing a B.S. in Environmental Science, with an emphasis in Conservation Biology, he hopes to take what he learns at UCLA and during this project to graduate school for Biological Oceanography and Food Web Design.

Hailing from Los Angeles County, Mateen’s love of the outdoors developed from the pockets of nature interspersed throughout the Greater Los Angeles area. Pursuing a B.S. in Environmental Science with a concentration in Environmental Health, he aims to apply his eclectic skill set and knowledge to achieve the goals of the project. In his spare time, Mateen loves to discover new music as he partakes in outdoor activities such as hiking.

Meagan grew up in Illinois to a family of outdoorsmen, which fostered her fascination in the environment and inspired her to move to a school by the ocean. She is currently set to graduate with a B.S. in Environmental Science and a concentration in Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences. When not in school, Meagan spends her time taking care of her numerous aquarium, insect, and reptile habitats, as well as preparing fossil specimens at the La Brea Tar Pits and Museum.

Rachel was born and raised in Orange County, CA. Her love for the outdoors started with family road trips to Sequoia National Park, Joshua Tree, and various other nature reserves, which ultimately played a large role in choosing her field of study. She is currently pursuing a B.S. in Environmental Science with a concentration in Environmental Engineering. In her free time she enjoys dancing, trying out new recipes, and visiting museums.

Ryan is the project manager for the Stronger Shoreline Team. Ryan’s minor in Conservation Biology inspired him to join up with this project, dedicated to protecting biodiversity off the California coasts. A native San Diegan, he has lived his whole life developing a love for the ocean, and hopes to continue building this love both within a scientific framework with this project as well as continuing to be a passionate competitive paddler and recreational sailor.