Octavio Aburto is a Full Professor at Scripps Institution of Oceanography (SIO), a professional photographer associate with the International League of Conservation Photographers, and a National Geographic Explorer. Octavio obtained his PhD at the Center of Marine Biodiversity and Conservation at SIO, and was awarded the Jean Fort Award by the University of California, San Diego, for his significant contribution to an issue of public concern through his doctoral research. He is a Katerhyn Fuller Fellow, WWF-Science Program in 2010, was awarded the Conservation of Nature prize by the Mexican Ministry of the Environment – CONANP in 2014, received a Hellman Fellowship, for a Junior Faculty Research Project in 2015, and is part of the PEW Marine Fellows since 2019. His research and photographs have focused on marine reserves and commercially exploited marine species and their fisheries in Mexico, Belize, Costa Rica, Ecuador, and the U.S. His photographs have been part of several conservation projects worldwide and have won international photography contests.

Patricia Fernandez leads program communications and impact strategy for the Gulf of California Marine Program, translating complex marine science into narratives that move funders, policymakers, and the public to action. She supports grant development, program coordination, and the knowledge infrastructure that connects GCMP's science to its real-world outcomes. Patricia brings over a decade of science communication experience across media, nonprofit, and research contexts, with work featured through outlets and organizations including NPR, Scientific American, and a range of local and international conservation nonprofits. She holds a Master's degree in Marine Environment and Resources from the University of the Basque Country, Spain, and works bilingually across GCMP's U.S. and Mexico-facing partnerships.

Alberto Rivera, MSc, and first year PhD student studied larval thermal tolerance and oxygen respiration at the University of San Diego. After studying at Tufts University, Alberto worked as a lead educator in Los Angeles and New York City helping students from underserved communities get into great high schools. Now, he helps lead the Conservation Leadership Program (supported by the California Natural Resources Agency) and pivoted to marine ecological theory research for his PhD. Alberto lives by a mantra to always have purpose beyond oneself.

Paula (she/they) is a naturalist, scientist, and communicator from Ensenada, Baja California. She obtained her BS in marine biology from UC San Diego and holds a MS from Centro de Investigaciones Biológicas del Noroeste on coastal management and resilience. They are currently a PhD student at Scripps Institute of Oceanography where they study marine socioecological dynamics across the U.S.-Mexico border. She grew up moving between Ensenada and San Diego and has a deep appreciation for the Baja California Peninsula and the border region. Paula prioritizes including cross-border perspectives and human systems in her work, and believes that transboundary collaboration is fundamental for successful conservation in Southern California and Baja California. Paula most recently served as the Senior Manager of Communications at the San Diego Natural History Museum and currently serves on the board of directors of the Next Generation of Sonoran Desert Researchers.

Local to San Diego and first year grad student studying the Non-extractive Ecotourism in Mexico. Outside of the lab, I enjoy hiking, camping, and writing.

Kevin Rhee is a Master of Advanced Studies student in Marine Biodiversity and Conservation at Scripps Institution of Oceanography, UC San Diego. With an academic background in economics and professional experience in designing financial incentives and data analytics, he is interested in applying interdisciplinary approaches to marine conservation. As a member of the Aburto Lab, Kevin is exploring how economic incentives can inform the design of public spending programs to improve socio-ecological outcomes in small-scale fisheries in the Gulf of California.

Paula most recently served as the Senior Manager of Communications at the San Diego Natural History Museum and currently serves on the board of directors of the Next Generation of Sonoran Desert Researchers.

Evan is a third-year marine biology major. He has conducted research on non-extractive marine ecotourism and is helping train a fish identification model.

Katie is a third year Marine Biology major. She is broadly interested in human's interactions with the oceans. Specifically, she is interested in anything fisheries. In the long term, she hopes to apply knowledge she gathered here to her hometown Hong Kong.

Megan is a second year Environmental Systems - Ecology, Behavior, and Evolution major. As a volunteer, she helps train a fish identification AI model and is passionate about marine invertebrate behavior, coastal ecology, and birdwatching.

Zinnia is a second-year Marine Biology and Public Policy double major. She enjoys snorkeling in La Jolla and is very passionate about marine conservation efforts. She helps train the AI fish identification model.