Ava.S
Environmental Engagement
Hi everyone! I'm excited to share my passion for environmental conservation, particular about the ocean, and education.
Our planet's precious species, from ocean depths to land, need our protection. Injustices occur daily, affecting not just the environment, but also small towns and economies.
Through past experiences, I've learned how to organize impactful marine conservation and education events as well as working in the marine lab. My goal is to learn by gaining experience and self-pursued research/reading.
I'm grateful to be part of Dr. La Valle's Marine Research group, where I learned from upperclassmen on their projects. This experience has broadened my knowledge of the field in ways I never thought possible.
Stay tuned for updates on upcoming events, guest speakers, and positive impacts. Thanks for joining me on this journey!
WaveCheck
COMING SOON!
BIOL 107: Plants and the Environment
I explored the intersection of plant biology and environmental science, from studying trap-flower pollination in Aristolochia ringens at the Lausanne Botanical Garden to researching desert adaptation in Acacia tortilis during a trip to Kenya's Maasai Mara. The course culminated in presenting original research on salt marsh ecosystems, including coastal squeeze, blue carbon storage, and keystone species like fiddler crabs and cordgrass, at a Natural Solutions conference on campus.
1st Pepperdine Energy Forum - November 2024
Three sessions, one Swiss canton, and a crash course in what carbon neutrality actually takes to pull off, that was Pepperdine's Energy Forum in Vaud. Held across fall 2024, the forum brought together local energy companies and cantonal representatives to dig into solar, wind, thermal, and hydronic heating solutions, almost entirely in French. A highlight was hearing from the mayor of a 100% sustainable town in Germany. By the end, my group researched and pitched our own wind farm proposal for Les Pléiades: seven turbines producing an estimated 55 GWh per year, enough to power the entire Riviera region with fully decarbonized energy. Between the content and the language, it was a crash course in both Switzerland's ambitious path to carbon neutrality by 2030 and my own French.
