Q&A with Grace Solevilla-Moreno

Meet Grace, a passionate educator-in-the-making from Ontario, California, who’s on a mission to connect mental health with nature. Having recently been accepted into a graduate program for Environmental Studies, Grace is also pursuing teaching credentials in mental and behavioral health. Inspired by a deep love for the ocean, especially sharks, she is working to create a learning experience that helps students care for both their minds and the environment.

In her future classroom, she hopes to take students beyond textbooks, planning trips to nature preserves and starting community circles where others can explore the connection between emotional wellness and the outdoors. 

What do you hope to learn or achieve during your time with MISS?

With MISS, I hope to explore various fields of research and get better at data analysis.
So far, I have explored sensory biology, stress physiology, and parasitology. In the future, I am interested in investigating ecotoxicology and wound healing. Currently, I hope to expand the field of shark parasitology and gain experience handling larger sharks. I would like to return as a summer camp counselor to continue participating in
environmental education, creating accessibility to science.

What projects/responsibilities have you enjoyed working on so far?

I was thrilled to do fieldwork for our red tide project and participate in shark fishing days during summer camp. Here, I gained more experience on a boat and learned new fishing methods such as longlining. As someone who is interested in blood-related research, I have been able to get more experience with collecting samples. With Dr. Andres, I enjoyed conducting research at Crystal River where there are neonate bullsharks.

What is it about sharks/the ocean that motivates you to make a difference?

The ocean keeps me grounded and brings me peace. Whether it be fieldwork or enjoying a beach sunset with good company, the ocean is where I am happiest. This also means that I have a responsibility to take care of it. When it comes to sharks, I am motivated to make a difference because they have always been portrayed in a negative light, simply for existing. This makes them all the more interesting to research and advocate for.

Do you have any advice for somebody wanting to follow a similar path as you?

The door will always remain closed if you never try to open it. Stepping into
new chapters of your life can be intimidating, but if you let that hold you
back from your passions, the opportunity will never arrive.

And of course, what’s your favorite shark?

Angular roughshark!