The Organizers

 

Anna Lowe, UCSC MARINE liaison 

 

Anna Lowe is PhD candidate starting her fourth year in the Ocean Science department at the University of California, Santa Cruz. Her research focuses on nearshore dynamics that transport larvae along the central California coast. This interdisciplinary research on dispersal patterns provides insight into population connectivity, which can be used to inform conservation efforts (e.g. design of interconnected network of marine protected areas). Additionally, she is interested in scientific communication and inquiry-based teaching methods. Prior to UCSC, Anna studied marine science with minors in applied-mathematics and physics from Coastal Carolina University. Then, she was a summer intern in the Water Power Technology Department at Sandia National Laboratories in Albuquerque, New Mexico. She enjoys scuba diving and swimming in the ocean!

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Julia Mason, Hopkins MARINE liaison

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Julia is a PhD candidate in Biology at Stanford University's Hopkins Marine Station, and is interested in the role of oceans and fisheries in food security for developing countries, the social impacts of conservation policies, and engaging diverse stakeholders in the scientific process. Her current research in Larry Crowder's lab focuses on the interacting effects of climate and management on fisheries resilience in California and Peru. She received a B.A in Environmental Science and Public Policy from Harvard College. 

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Monica Moritsch, UCSC MARINE liaison 

 

​Monica is a PhD candidate in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology at UC Santa Cruz. She is interested in intertidal community ecology and the trophic interactions that influence marine ecosystems. Her research focuses on identifying possible environmental contributors to sea star wasting syndrome outbreaks and its ecological consequences for intertidal communities. She is also interested in helping fellow students access resources to benefit their careers and connect with the greater marine science community. Monica is originally from Sacramento and received a BS in Molecular Environmental Biology from UC Berkeley. For more information about Monica's research, visit her website.

 

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Kyle H Broach, UCSC MARINE liaison

 

​Kyle is PhD student in Earth and Planetary Sciences at UC Santa Cruz working in the Biogeochemistry Lab.  His research focuses on rainfall variability and drought frequency in the tropics with a current project in the Yucatan Peninsula.  Broadly he is interested in climate-induced changes in the hydrologic cycle and the impact on water resources and the suite of geochemical isotopes used to determine those changes.  Kyle is from Tennessee and received B.A.s in chemistry and geology from Vanderbilt University.  Before graduate school he spent several months hiking half of the Appalachian Trail, and in his occasional spare time he enjoys hiking, cooking, and gardening.  His research and other projects can be found on his website.

 

 

Laura Good, Center for Ocean Solutions

Laura Good is the education manager for the Center for Ocean Solutions where she manages our leadership development and ocean education activities, including the MARINE program. Originally from the UK, Laura’s background is in Marine Resource Management and Informal Science Education. Laura earned her BS in ocean science from the University of Plymouth (UK), and both her MS in marine resource management and PhD in science education from Oregon State University. Her research interests center on marine education, scientist engagement in education and outreach, and professional development for informal educators, where her doctoral work focused on the interpretive practice of science center docents as they communicate science to the public. Laura specializes in free choice learning, a term used to describe learning that takes place in our everyday lives, where we have choice and control over the learning opportunities at hand.