Sophia Simon, UC Davis, Ecology

Sophia works in ecology at UC Davis studying complex marine food webs. She was called "hard-working, rigorous, and insightful."  Sophia is a PhD student who studies how climate change-driven environmental disturbances affect the structure and function of complex marine food webs. Her research focuses specifically on the rocky tidepool ecosystems found along the coasts of California and Chile. If you’ve ever explored a tidepool, you’ll know they’re incredible hotspots of biodiversity—and they also serve as an important bridge between people and the ocean, inspiring care, curiosity, and stewardship. At the same time, these ecosystems are highly vulnerable to human impacts, environmental degradation, and climate change. Because they are so complex, with many species interacting in often unpredictable ways, it’s not always clear how these communities will respond to disturbance. To address this challenge, her research uses tools from network analysis to map the food web—"who eats whom"—to understand how these species are connected and how the system functions as a whole. This big-picture view helps identify key species and interactions that support ecosystem resilience, and ultimately, could inform holistic management approaches. Alongside her research, Sophia has also been committed to bridging science with policy and community-based stewardship. She has organized events that bring together scientists, decision-makers, and the public to collectively explore how we care for our marine ecosystems. Ultimately, she hopes her work contributes to more holistic and equitable approaches to ecosystem management—approaches that reflect the complexity of the natural and human systems we live within. Sophia says, "I’m deeply grateful to PBKNCA for supporting this work and recognizing the importance of research that connects science, community, and the stewardship of our natural world."