Meet Mariah Grace!
The first time I descended beneath the surface as a certified diver at 13, I understood something that could never be fully taught in a classroom: the ocean is alive, complex, and fragile. I gained more than a skill; I gained perspective. I witnessed the vulnerability of ecosystems that sustain life on Earth.
AI and data centers have become an imminent threat to water, the planet and her people!
My work is grounded in the urgent need to align technological advancement with environmental stewardship.
- US Navy SEAP Intern
- Aquarium of the Bay Docent
- YMCA Lifeguard and Swim Instructor
- Georgia Aquarium/Frank Ski Foundation Marine Biology Scholar
- Marine Ecology Research Program in partnership with Monterey Bay Aquarium and NOAA
As an undergraduate student I look forward to participating in:
- UCDC spending a semester working on environmental protections in the U.S. Congress
- Semester at Sea spending a semester on a ship visiting 11 counties, 4 continents and studying the waterways along the way.
- UNEP Environment Affairs internship working on global policy and governance
My approach integrates “National Policy Within Global Frameworks”
- U.S. Department of Energy (DOE): Focus on energy-water nexus challenges in data center infrastructure, including cooling systems and efficiency standards
- National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA): Marine ecosystem monitoring, climate data modeling, and ocean conservation science
- Environmental Protection Agency (EPA): Water resource management, environmental regulation, and sustainable infrastructure policy
- UN Sustainable Development Goals (17 SDGs):
- Clean Water & Sanitation (SDG 6)
- Affordable and Clean Energy (SDG 7)
- Climate Action (SDG 13)
- Life Below Water (SDG 14)
- Life on Land (SDG 15)
Not only is my approach to conservation as a scientist, but also as a storyteller.
Through deep sea diving, photography, visual narrative, and an interest in sustainable fashion as a communication platform - like Prada's Sea Beyond Campaign, I aim to make environmental challenges visible, human, and urgent—similar to initiatives that merge culture and conservation.
I am building toward a career that combines:
- Environmental data science
- Ocean and water conservation
- Technology governance and policy design
- Photography and visual storytelling
My goal is to influence how emerging technologies are built, regulated, and scaled—ensuring environmental sustainability is embedded from the start. Because the future of innovation should not come at the expense of the ecosystems that sustain us—it should exist to protect them.
