2022 Incoming Grad Series: Javier Patron

THE STORY

I am from Mexico City, a city that was once powered by water channels allowing people to travel around in boats. It had a well-planned grid of water roads and grew all commercial food just on the sides of the "roads". It was known as the "Great Tenochtitlan" back in the 15th century. Now, it is the 5th most populated city in the world, and is facing significant challenges in providing clean water to its population.

I'm an energetic individual and a passionate advocate for the environment. My life experiences as a young sailor, my Bachelor's degree in mechanical and electrical engineering, and my involvement in ocean sports like sailing and surfing have resulted in my coming up against some eye-opening environmental scenarios. For example, last year what started as a very organized and planned trip to cross the ocean from Newport, CA to Sydney, Australia in a racing sailboat ended up very differently. We had to haul out our boat in the Fiji Islands due to Australia's extreme COVID-19 measures as we never received the visas. From that moment on I knew, I had to replan my life.

Walking down the empty docks and figuring out my next plans, I was invited to participate in a coral restoration project led by Dr. Austin Bowden-Kerby (a world-renowned authority on coral restoration). I knew this was a "once-in-a-lifetime opportunity." I stayed as a volunteer for 3 months, helping to collect key data to inform conservation. Thanks to all the marine biologists I worked alongside, I was motivated to apply for the Master of Environmental Data Science (MEDS) at Bren School and pursue my dream.

WHY UCSB

I learned about UCSB and the Bren School thanks to a chat I had with Brandon Doheny (a marine scientist) on the docks of the Mamanuca Islands in Fiji. Brandon told me why his experience at the Bren School of Environmental Science was so valuable and how the school really help him in his professional life afterward. All the networking, research, and job opportunities he had were thanks to UCSB. From that moment on, I knew I had to be part of the Bren School and become a Gaucho in the near future.

RESEARCH INTERESTS

My vision as an Environmental Data Scientist is to empower high-end technology companies to enrich their monitoring practices using big data and its applications in order to have a positive environmental impact. I aspire to work on natural climate solutions, carbon offset, and the restoration and conservation of marine protected areas (MPA).

I'm currently collaborating with the Center for Marine Biodiversity & Conservation at UCSD. We are building a data-driven mechanism to analyze and explore information from recreational divers to better understand the biodiversity and health of specific marine protected areas (MPA) in Baja California, Mexico.

FUN FACTS

During my free time, I just love the outdoors. Some things I enjoy are putting on a wet suit and taking advantage of the waves and wind to sail and surf, going camping, and climbing the nearest rock and gazing at the stars. I also like to play my guitar by the fire, accompanied by beers, jokes, and friends.