Marian Walker is an ecosystem scientist and environmental advocate committed to advancing innovative solutions for resilient communities and ecosystems in a changing climate.

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Graduating with high honors and distinction in Environmental Studies from the University of California, Santa Barbara, Marian specializes in Physical Geography and Science & Mathematics Education. Her research spans wildfire resilience, kelp forest restoration, and the impacts of plantation forestry on Indigenous communities, leveraging geospatial analysis and community-driven strategies to address pressing environmental challenges.

 

Marian’s work has been published in Intersect: The Stanford Journal of Science, Technology, and Society and has earned national recognition, including Special Congressional Recognition for Public Service from Congressman Salud Carbajal. She has presented at leading conferences such as the 2022 American Geophysical Union Fall Meeting, 2023 Ecological Society of America Fall Meeting, and the 2023 UCLA National McNair Scholars Conference.

 

As an Ecosystem Scientist at SIG-NAL Spatial Informatics Group, Marian manages nine projects across California’s Central Coast, partnering with ranch owners, neighborhood communities, universities, and nonprofits to reduce wildfire risks and promote sustainable land management. By integrating scientific research with local knowledge, she develops community-centered strategies that balance conservation and resilience.

 

In her undergraduate research, Marian partnered with local and state-level organizations such as The Nature Conservancy, Channel Islands Restoration, and the Cheadle Center for Biodiversity and Ecological Restoration. Guided by the belief that research and activism are built from the ground up, she contributed to prescribed grazing initiatives, coastal sage scrub restoration, and long-term ecological monitoring, providing actionable management recommendations to these organizations.

 

An ardent educator, Marian has taught Geographic Information Systems and Nature Education Practicum as a Teaching Assistant at UCSB. She has also developed innovative curricula for the Wave Learning Festival and Boulder Preparatory High School, inspiring the next generation to tackle environmental challenges.

 

Backed by over $55,000 in research grants and awards from Edison International, Bank of America, and the Schmidt Family Foundation, Marian co-led a fundraising campaign that raised $10,000 to conserve 100+ acres of threatened grassland in the San Marcos Foothills. Her work champions Indigenous-led conservation, bridges science with storytelling, and advocates for equitable environmental policies. Rooted in community-centered approaches, she is dedicated to empowering people and protecting ecosystems in a rapidly changing world.