MESM 2026
Pronouns: she/they
Bio
Sarayu earned her B.S. in Animal Science with a minor in Chemistry from California Polytechnic State University Pomona, in 2017. She began her environmental science career at Point Blue Conservation Science, where they contributed to long-term population ecology studies along California's coast and investigated factors affecting seabird breeding success.
Recognizing barriers to entry for young environmentalists from underrepresented backgrounds, Sarayu developed Point Blue's first social media coordinator role. In this position, they engaged with early-career scientists and strengthened partnerships.
Most recently, Sarayu coordinated marine debris cleanups in the northern Channel Islands with the National Marine Sanctuary Foundation. She collaborated closely with local agencies and applied geospatial analysis to document project progress.
With a foundation in research and science communication, Sarayu focuses on using intuitive data visualization techniques to share scientific progress in an actionable and accessible format. Their goal is to bridge gaps between scientific findings, regional policy, and community engagement, empowering stakeholders to actively contribute to coastal resilience efforts.
Driven by a passion for environmental justice, Sarayu plans to advance sustainable coastal management practices and support initiatives that build climate resilience.