Mariana Padilla

• Planned, captured, and edited photographs, utilizing photo editing software to enrich raw images and incorporate artwork for publication.
• Collaborated with writing and editing staff to capture impactful images that enhance article narratives.
• Link to recent article: https://www.theenvironmentalistmagazine.com/spring-2026-issue-1/crossing-the-threshold-of-amoc-collapse

• Collaborate with local Bay Area community organizations and schools to serve the community and uphold principles of environmentalism.
• Professional Environmental Service Fraternity

• Managed datasets and researched partnerships while creating outreach content for department newsletters and websites to enhance community engagement.
• Develop organizational skills through weekly team meetings and communication with faculty and alumni.

• Tutored bilingual students K-5 in homework and after-school programming, fostering academic growth and language skills.
• Coordinated volunteer schedules, maximizing participation and resource allocation.
• Planned after-school events to boost student engagement and participation.
• Organized activities for youth, promoting teamwork and social skills.
• Supervised children during events, ensuring safety and engagement.

Bridging Scientific and Traditional Knowledge for Rainforest Conservation and Restoration

• Developed and designed a bilingual field guide integrating scientific and traditional ecological knowledge of Malagasy tree species, facilitating knowledge transfer in conservation efforts.
• Assisted in rainforest restoration research on natural regeneration processes in eastern Madagascar ecosystems, enhancing understanding of ecosystem resilience.
• Processed and organized ecological datasets on forest regeneration and tree functional traits, improving data accessibility for analysis and research.
• Supported interdisciplinary conservation efforts bridging biodiversity science, restoration ecology, and community-based knowledge exchange.

Through this program, I was a part of a 20-student cohort that was immersed in French Polynesian culture, environmental policies, ecological research, and community engagement efforts on the island. Projects in collaboration with leading researchers and local leaders included:

• Restored native shoreline plants to combat erosion and protect sea turtle nesting sites
• Restored native vegetation on uninhabited motus post invasive species eradication to promote ecosystem recovery
• Mapped coastal features using GPS, substrate transects, and shoreline documentation to support effective environmental management
• Cataloged terrestrial and marine species for island species archive in coral reefs, beaches, and mountains, enhancing biodiversity knowledge
• Collected eDNA samples from diverse aquatic sources to support the island’s species archive
• Designed and led sea cucumber (rori) centered school workshops at local elementary schools
• Science project protocol adaptation and composition for the use of local educators

UC Berkeley

• Cultivated various plants and flowers in community garden settings.
• Cleared and prepared garden beds, watered, and maintained garden to enhance campus initiatives.
• Assisted with garden maintenance tasks to promote healthy growth.
• Educated visitors about sustainable gardening practices and plant care.

• Through this program, faculty members from UC Berkeley's science and sustainability departments will deliver lectures on their respective fields of study to broaden global perspectives.
• Throughout the program, as a cohort, we would get involved in gardening projects some of the faculty were working on, and at the end of the program, we each came up with a community-facing sustainability project to present at the UC Berkeley Solar Powered Music Festival.
• UC Berkeley Housing Program

• Maintained garden beds by pruning, weeding, and fertilizing plants regularly.
• Executed landscape maintenance tasks, including mowing, weed-whacking, pruning, yard cleanup, stump removal, planting trees, and trimming, to enhance overall property aesthetics.
• Coordinated communication with clients to understand and address their specific landscaping needs.