Paula (she/they) holds a BS in Marine Biology with a minor in Environmental Studies from UC San Diego. Paula is also a graduate student at the Northwest Biological Research Center in La Paz, Baja California Sur, Mexico, where their research assesses the sustainability of public beaches by incorporating social and ecological sciences. In 2021, Paula was the Climate Science Alliance's first Climate Science Intern and led a research project that explored blue carbon measurement methodology in mangrove forests. She is now the Alliance's Science Program Manager where she is responsible for overseeing and coordinating the organization's science programs. She is passionate about science communication and outreach, is community oriented, and always tries to include social frameworks in her professional endeavors. They have collaborated with the Gulf of California Marine Program, Mares Mexicanos, the Surfrider Foundation, the Baja Coastal Institute, and Ocean Discovery Institute. Paula grew up moving between Ensenada and San Diego and has a deep appreciation of the Baja California Peninsula. In her free time she enjoys cooking, roller skating, hiking with her dog Milanesa, doing yoga, dancing, and tending to her compost and garden.