Eliana Bower

Name: Eliana Bower

College: Rachel Carson

Department: Ecology and Evolutionary Biology

What Award/ Scholarship did you receive? I received the Keeley Coastal Scholars Award.

What year do you expect to graduate? I will graduate in the spring of 2024.

Where do you call home? I grew up in San Jose, but I now call Santa Cruz home.

With all of the choices for college, what made UC Santa Cruz stand out? UC Santa Cruz stood out to me because it is a beautiful place to go to school and has many opportunities to get involved in research as an undergraduate.

What is your field of focus? My field of focus is marine biology. I have a special interest in conservation research and marine botany.

What do you hope to do once you graduate from UC Santa Cruz? Once I graduate from UC Santa Cruz I aim to do research that expands our knowledge of the ocean so I can aid in the conservation and protection of the marine environment with a changing global climate. While pursuing my professional goals I also want to lower the barrier of entry for students wanting to enter marine biology and help make science accessible to everyone.

What is one memorable moment that stands out for you as a student here? My most memorable moment as an undergraduate was going on a field quarter to Sitka, Alaska where I found my passion for research. In the class, I had the opportunity to connect with like-minded peers and build life-long connections. The skills I learned to conduct independent research and be a good communicator are things that I will carry with me throughout the rest of my career. I will also never forget the surreal experience of seeing the northern lights for the first time and watching the green and pink pulses of light dance across the sky.

What is your one piece of advice for incoming students about life at UC Santa Cruz? My advice is to apply to everything that you’re even a little bit interested in even if you don’t think you’re qualified. Everyone has imposter syndrome! College is the best place to explore your interests and expand your professional network, so take advantage of it while you’re at UC Santa Cruz.

How will this scholarship impact your academic life /research? This scholarship will put me and my partner Salma one step closer to being able to continue our research with the intertidal seaweed, Fucus. This research is important to inform future conservation efforts if Fucus is lost due to warming temperatures. This experience of conducting an independent research project will also give me the experience to succeed in future research projects and graduate school.