Countercurrents

Theodora is a third year Marine Biology PhD student in the Semmens Lab at Scripps. Aside from the squid she studies (and other cephalopods), Theodora loves making classical music, creative writing, knitting, and stained glass, and is trying to get better at digital art.

Engineer, tinkerer, sound artist and SIO Ph.D. candidate, Oc trades time for money teaching machines to eavesdrop on coral reefs and decode underwater symphonies for restoration. When not submerged in data or actual seawater, Oc loves improvising sonic experiments on vocals, flute, and anything percussive. As a science communicator, they are obsessed with translating the ocean's stories into experiences one can feel deep in the bones.

Mariah is a PhD student in the Bradley Moore Lab studying marine natural products and synthetic biology. She is originally from Alaska and misses cozying up under a blanket with a cup of tea on a winter day. She loves fiber crafts (spinning, knitting), woodworking, and ceramics.

Ahmi is a PhD candidate in the Sandin Lab. She studies coral reef population dynamics using large-area photogrammetry. Whether in the field or on land, you can find her with her film camera on-hand or painting a fish she saw underwater.

Studying deep-sea ecosystems and their resilience to climate change. Passionate about science communication and ocean art.

Aurora is an interdisciplinary coastal chemical oceanographer, focused on understanding how freshwater plumes mix and transport in the coastal ocean through analytical and observational techniques. When not in the lab or at sea for research, she spends her time racing sailboats, teaching ceramics, writing, and surfing as much as humanly possible.

Rimma is a postdoctoral researcher at SIO in the Hamdoun Lab. When she is not playing with glowing sea urchins at work, Rimma loves making colorful paintings and sculptures, taking film photos of everything she sees, cooking up huge meals with friends, and most importantly, surfing her brains out.

Sarah is a PhD student in Visual Arts and the Program for Interdisciplinary Environmental Research (PIER) at the Center for Marine Biodiversity and Conservation at Scripps.

Ethan's interests center on wild nature, cameras, exploration, movement, and play. They are a 5th year Marine Biology PhD Candidate in the Deheyn Lab at SIO studying the in-vivo roles of native Fluorescent Proteins. Catch them in the talus slides and piles of the North-American West, in the waves at SIO, or in a book or CA naturalism project.

Focused on marine ecology and ecosystem dynamics. Enjoys bridging science and storytelling through visual media.

Riley is an engineer, maker, designer, and educator whose research focuses on how educational institutions design and assess makerspaces to reflect the commitments and values of school communities. His work spans education, engineering, design, and sociology, with particular emphasis on creating inclusive and accessible maker learning environments.