MESM 2027
Pronouns: she/her
Bio
Emma Rodriguez graduated from the University of California, Santa Cruz, with a Bachelor’s degree in Environmental Science and a minor in Sustainability. During her time at UCSC, she served as a docent for Natural Bridges State Beach, where she led tours for children on the monarch butterfly groves and tidepools. Emma gained experience in team based lab work, acid digestion, data collection, and analysis through the Kapuscinski and Sarker Sustainable Aquaculture Lab. She contributed to developing fish feeds that reduce phosphorus emissions and eutrophication. For her senior capstone project, Emma wrote a grant proposal for an innovative renewable energy design that captures energy from snowfall through pressurized rooftop plates, offering a sustainable backup energy source during extreme snow events.
Emma’s love for freshwater systems began at a young age, inspired by her father, a whitewater rafting guide and professional kayaker. With growing interests in water resource management and renewable energy, Emma aims to explore the intersection of freshwater systems and sustainable energy solutions by combining specializations in both the Water Resources Management and Energy & Climate programs at Bren.