Silas Gifford
In 2023, Silas Gifford, a Master of Information and Data Science student at UC Berkeley, has been perfecting a model that uses satellite imagery of Point Reyes National Seashore to monitor elephant seals. The project team is using these images to train a predictive model to count elephant and harbor seals in the park more accurately, safely, and efficiently. CA-CESU Science Communication Assistant Agnes Villaroman interviewed Gifford about their work on this project. Learn more about their experience below!
Luis Orozco-Sanchez
Luis is a Conservation and Resource Studies major who is assisting National Park scientists with a project identifying jewelflowers in Pinnacles National Park. From March to May, Luis’ job was to hike through the canyons of Pinnacles National Park in search of new populations of an undescribed jewelflower. By the end of this project, Luis and the project team found 53 populations of the new species of jewelflower. CA-CESU Science Communication Assistant Agnes Villaroman interviewed Orozco-Sanchez about his work on this project. Learn more about his experience below!
Thuy-Tien Bui
Thuy-Tien is an undergraduate Conservation and Resource Studies major who is assisting CESU science advisor Ben Becker and ecologists at the Golden Gate National Recreation Area analyze a long-term fish and water quality dataset to determine ongoing threats to the endangered tidewater goby and inform management needs for the species. She is analyzing data collected over 20 years in Rodeo Lagoon to determine whether variables such as water temperature, dissolved oxygen, rainfall, submerged aquatic vegetation cover, and competition with other fish species affects the population density of tidewater gobies. Learn more about her experience below!