This is a guest blog written by our Monitoring Technician, Emma.
My journey to the Morro Bay National Estuary Program has been anything but straightforward. I’ve always had an insatiable curiosity to explore, both intellectually and geographically. This curiosity has guided me through various experiences, ultimately leading me to my current role with the Estuary Program.
A Passion for Geography
I grew up in Houston, Texas, and started at the University of Texas (UT) in 2019. Like many new college students, I wasn’t sure what I wanted to study or what career path I wanted to take. I had so many different interests, often in fields that seemed unrelated. I switched between several majors – some in STEM, some in the humanities – searching for the right fit. It wasn’t until I stumbled upon geography that everything finally clicked.
I was drawn to geography because it seemed to integrate all my different interests. Geography, as a discipline, aims to understand the relationships between human societies, ecological processes, physical features, and the arrangement of all these things across space and time. Geography is also inherently interdisciplinary. Geographers draw from subjects like geology, sociology, ecology, economics, and anthropology, and use quantitative and qualitative approaches to map how human and natural systems influence one another. This balanced, integrative approach was exactly what I had been looking for.
Professional Journey
After diving into geography, I began my professional journey with a GIS (Geographic Information Systems) internship at an environmental engineering firm, where I was unexpectedly, but serendipitously, placed on the stormwater team. As someone who grew up on the Gulf Coast and lived through several major hurricanes, I felt a personal connection to stormwater and flood planning. That connection grew into a fascination with all water-related things, which has only grown since.
Following that internship, I worked in the Soils and Geoarchaeology Lab and the Environmental Hydrology and Water Quality Lab at UT, where the incredible mentorship and fascinating science inspired me.
Water Science and Lab Work
I quickly learned that labs could be much more than spaces for research— they fostered constant learning and collaboration and were places where passion for science was passed to the next generation. The directors of the labs and my mentor there cultivated a supportive environment where students felt a sense of inspiration and belonging. This experience sparked an enthusiasm for lab work and building inclusive scientific communities, which continues to drive me.
I wrapped up my degree at UT with a senior capstone project focused on local watershed health. After graduating, I moved to Hawaiʻi to focus on GIS and lab work for bird conservation. While it was a bit of a departure from my focus on water, I was still using the same skills I had developed in GIS, data analysis, and scientific research. Living in Hawaiʻi and learning to surf and scuba dive further strengthened my connection to aquatic ecosystems, and I found myself wanting to return to water science.
The Estuary Program
That desire brought me to the Estuary Program, where I now work as a Monitoring Technician, assessing water quality in the creeks and bay. I’m thrilled to be back studying aquatic systems again. And I feel incredibly fortunate to spend my days in this beautiful watershed alongside a team that cares deeply about our work.
Although the journey that led me here has been a bit roundabout, the water scientist in me appreciates all the meanders – all the times I’ve felt stuck for a while, changed course, and traveled far from my home. And the geographer in me smiles at the unique connection between every person and place that has shaped my story.
Help us protect and restore the Morro Bay estuary!
- Donate to the Estuary Program today and support our work in the field, the lab, and beyond.
The Estuary Program is a 501(c)3 nonprofit. We depend on funding from grants and generous donors to continue our work. - Support us by purchasing estuary-themed gear from ESTERO. This locally owned and operated company donates 20% of proceeds from its Estuary clothing line and 100% of Estuary decal proceeds to the Estuary Program. Thank you, ESTERO!
- Purchase items from the Estuary Program’s store on Zazzle. Zazzle prints and ships your items, and the Estuary Program receives 10% of the proceeds.
- Subscribe to our seasonal newsletter: Between the Tides!
- We want to hear from you! Please take a few minutes to fill out this short survey about what type of events you’d like to see from the Estuary Program. We appreciate your input!