UC San Diego Cohort to Collaborate on Global Climate Solutions at COP30 in Brazil

From Nov. 10-21, 2025, world leaders, scientists, policymakers, industry representatives and delegates from around the globe will gather in the Amazon city of Belém, Brazil at the 30th United Nations (UN) Conference of the Parties, or COP30. Their goal? To negotiate national responses to climate change on a global level. 

The University of California San Diego is sending a delegation to contribute expertise on the central role of oceans in the development of climate solutions.

Led by Scripps Oceanography and Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, the Ocean Pavilion will return to COP this year to highlight the interconnectedness of the ocean and forests and the role of both ecosystems in sustaining planetary health. This year’s Ocean Pavilion, located in the conference’s Blue Zone, will include 60 presentations, keynote addresses and in-depth discussions organized around key themes including Ocean Life and Biodiversity, Blue Economy and Finance, Ocean Justice and Equity and Forest to Sea.

“The ocean has significant potential to play a role in restoring balance to our global climate through science-based solutions and informed policy decisions,” said Meenakshi Wadhwa, director of Scripps Oceanography and vice chancellor for marine sciences at UC San Diego. “I look forward to standing alongside each of our delegates at COP30 to bring ocean and climate science expertise to the forefront on a global stage and to discuss actionable steps to protect our planet."

In all, 34 representatives of the University of California system will travel to Belém for COP30. The contingent will include 22 representatives of UC San Diego’s Scripps Institution of Oceanography and School of Global Policy and Strategy.

Marking the first time the event has been held in Brazil, the agenda for COP30 aims to accelerate the implementation of past negotiations and elevate climate action. COP30 will have a particular focus on the efforts needed to limit the global temperature increase from pre-Industrial levels to 1.5 degrees Celsius, the presentation of new national action plans and the progress on the finance pledges made during COP29.

COP30 will also bring several UC San Diego alumni, including famed science fiction author Kim Stanley Robinson ’74, PhD ’82. His novel, “The Ministry for the Future,” has become the basis for a UN effort to address climate justice. Robinson will address the issue on Nov. 11 when the Ocean Pavilion formally issues the Belém Declaration, which identifies the main areas of concern the ocean science community hopes to see addressed in the climate negotiations.

Travel for the Scripps Oceanography student delegation is generously supported by Logitech — a global company that designs technology for working, creating and gaming, and is committed to sustainable practices — as well as several individual donors. 

For the second year, Scripps Oceanography will continue to follow the UC policy of paying the “equity weighted” social cost of carbon (SCC) associated with delegates’ travel costs. The SCC is a science-based estimate, in dollars, of economic damages created by each additional ton of carbon emissions incurred by the travel of UC travelers to international events.  

Individual members of the delegation are encouraged to pay a portion of the cost with Scripps Oceanography contributing to the remainder of the costs. The payment will be made in the form of donations to non-governmental organizations whose work focuses on helping societies and the environment deal with the impacts of climate change or reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

As representatives of the UC observer delegation at COP30, the group of students and faculty will have opportunities to present and discuss ocean and climate research at the Ocean Pavilion and engage in other panel discussions and events throughout the conference. In the profiles below, learn more about the delegates and what they are looking forward to at COP30.

Michaela Alksne, Scripps PhD Candidate 

Attending week two

Michaela Alksne is a Scripps PhD candidate studying marine mammal ecology and long-term biogeography. Her work leverages large, complex datasets to investigate drivers of marine mammal distribution and behavior off the coast of California. Alksne is a National Defense Science and Engineering Graduate Fellow whose work is tied to management directives for mitigating harmful human-wildlife interactions and safeguarding top oceanic predator biodiversity for years to come. “At COP30, I will be speaking about global ocean noise and its effects on marine ecosystems,” said Alksne. “I am excited to advocate for ocean biodiversity monitoring and dynamic ecosystem management solutions.”

Valeria Becerra Angulo, School of Global Policy and Strategy Master of International Affairs Student

Attending week two

Valeria Becerra Angulo is a Master of International Affairs student at UC San Diego’s School of Global Policy and Strategy, with regional specializations in Southeast Asia and Latin America, and a focused policy track in energy security and international environmental governance. She contributed to the Institute of the Americas under the Cities Forward initiative, where she consulted with 14 municipalities across Latin America and authored the Sustainable Technologies Report. In this role, she explored how emerging technologies could be deployed to accelerate cities’ decarbonization and enhance climate adaptation. “I am honored to represent the School of Global Policy and Strategy at COP30, and I look forward to contributing Latin American municipal perspectives while learning from Southeast Asian urban and climate-energy transitions,” said Becerra Angulo.

Kerstin Bergentz, Scripps PhD Candidate

Attending week one

Kerstin Bergentz is a Scripps PhD candidate studying physical oceanography. She works with Scripps physical oceanographers Jennifer MacKinnon and Luca Centurioni to research air-sea interactions, waves and energy budgets in the upper ocean. “I look forward to my second time at COP and continuing to advocate for the importance of ocean-centered climate action,” said Bergentz. “I am excited to apply my knowledge of the ocean and global ocean monitoring programs in the world of international climate negotiations.” 

Victoria Boatwright, Scripps PhD Student

Attending week two

Victoria Boatwright is a Scripps PhD student studying physical oceanography with a focus on estuary-ocean interactions and their impact on biogeochemistry. Her research on local estuaries in the San Diego region investigates storm-driven biogeochemical change and water quality impacts due to physical processes in the estuary. “I seek to engage local resource managers and environmental organizations with science and local knowledge to improve decision-making across timescales, from weekend beach planning related to water quality to long-term coastal modifications due to climate change and urbanization,” said Boatwright. 

Ahmyia Cacapit, Scripps PhD Candidate 

Attending week two

Ahmyia Cacapit is a Scripps PhD candidate studying marine biology. Her research focuses on coral reef ecology and coral community dynamics in the context of climate resiliency and disturbance ecology. Cacapit’s work emphasizes the power of long-term monitoring as a tool to understand how natural systems recover on various scales. She has also worked across the Pacific with fellow Indigenous peoples for various monitoring initiatives. “I am eager to collaborate with conservationists and stakeholders to promote ocean-centered solutions and uplift ocean communities,” said Cacapit.

Colleen Cochran, Scripps MAS CSP Student

Attending week two

Colleen Cochran is a Scripps graduate student pursuing a Master of Advanced Studies in Climate Science and Policy. Her research bridges voluntary commitments with climate policy to drive meaningful action. She serves as the Climate Action Policy Committee Chair within UC San Diego’s Graduate and Professional Student Association and also chairs Fordham University’s alumni sustainability network.  Outside of academia, Cochran is a climate consultant, community organizer and activist who advises organizations on their sustainability strategies to expert working groups on carbon accounting and target-setting. “I am excited to discover and connect public, industry and community efforts to combat climate change at COP30,” said Cochran.

Mia Conti, Scripps MAS CSP Student

Attending week two

Mia Conti is a Scripps graduate student in the Master of Advanced Studies program in Climate Science and Policy. She is researching blue carbon ecosystems (BCEs), partnering with an ongoing European project to better understand the science behind BCEs, as well as to promote the role of BCEs in national and international carbon budgets and policy decisions. Upon graduating from UCLA with a double major in environmental science and Spanish and a minor in conservation biology, she worked at an environmental law firm researching carcinogenic and toxic chemicals that harm consumers and pollute the environment. “I see the absolute necessity for a combination of scientific innovation, management and policy to combat the manifold impacts of climate change that threaten both humans and the environment alike,” said Conti.

Holly Harwood, School of Global Policy and Strategy Master of International Affairs Student

Attending week two 

Holly Harwood is a Master of International Affairs student specializing in environmental, social, and governance implementation, stakeholder mobilization, and integrating community-engaged research into financeable solutions at UC San Diego’s School of Global Policy and Strategy. She is a systems strategist, researcher, policy advisor and project architect dedicated to advancing climate justice and equity. At COP30, they represent the Asia Foundation and the Global Youth Leadership Center, forging partnerships across policy, nonprofits and the private sector. “I am honored to be attending COP30 with the Scripps delegation and look forward to collaborating with experts and business leaders to transform nationally declared contributions into meaningful sustainable development solutions,” said Harwood. 

Katrina Johnson, Scripps PhD Candidate 

Attending week two 

Katrina Johnson is a Scripps PhD candidate studying biological oceanography. Her research focuses on quantifying and modeling ship noise and evaluating its impacts on marine mammals in the Gulf of Mexico and Arctic regions. “I look forward to joining the Scripps delegation at COP30 to share insights on ocean noise and collaborate with others dedicated to advancing sustainable and quieter oceans for marine life and coastal communities alike,” said Johnson.

Margaret Leinen, Director Emeritus of Scripps Oceanography 

Attending week one

Margaret Leinen is the director emeritus of Scripps Institution of Oceanography and vice chancellor emeritus for marine sciences at UC San Diego. She is an award-winning ocean biogeochemist and paleoceanographer whose research includes studies of ocean carbon cycling and the role of the oceans in climate. Leinen has served as the president of the American Geophysical Union and The Oceanography Society. She also served as Chair of the U.S. Global Change Research Program, U.S. Department of State Science Envoy for the Ocean and a member co-chair of the Decade Advisory Board for the UN Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development. Leinen is a fellow of the American Geophysical Union, the Oceanography Society, the Geological Society of America, the American Association for the Advancement of Science and the American Academy of Arts of Science.

Danielle McHaskell, Scripps PhD Candidate 

Attending week one 

Danielle McHaskell is a Scripps PhD candidate studying marine biology with a focus on phycology, invasion ecology and community ecology. Her research investigates the introduction process of non-native seaweeds into subtidal-rocky reef ecosystems in California with a particular focus on Undaria pinnatifida and Sargassum horneri. Additionally, her research spans disciplines as she seeks to revitalize Indigenous Ecological Knowledge through collaboration and co-creation between the Kumeyaay community and the Black community in San Diego by determining how community partners would like institutions to build relationships. “I am particularly excited to go to COP30 given the focus on centering Indigenous knowledge holders within the delegation process in the heart of the Amazon,” said McHaskell.

Maya Prunty, Scripps MAS MBC Student 

Attending week one

Maya Prunty is a Scripps graduate student in the Master of Advanced Studies program in Marine Biodiversity and Conservation. With a background in education and communication, Prunty takes an interdisciplinary approach to marine science, emphasizing science communication and public engagement. She is dedicated to advancing equitable and inclusive approaches to conservation by ensuring marginalized communities have a voice in ocean stewardship. “I am excited to attend COP30 in Brazil, where I look forward to connecting with like-minded individuals who share my passion and determination for ocean and climate conservation,” said Prunty.

Sarah Romero, Scripps PhD Candidate

Attending week one

Sarah Romero is a Scripps PhD candidate studying marine biology with a focus on coral reef ecology. Her research focuses on how coral reef communities respond to climate change impacts on a remote reef free of local stressors. Her work emphasizes the need for local management on coral reef coastlines to reduce stressors and pressure in order for reefs to thrive in an already rapidly changing environment. “I am looking forward to traveling to Belém, Brazil with other students and meeting and learning from everyone at the conference,” said Romero.

Vladimir Ryabinin, Former Executive Secretary for the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission at UNESCO 

Attending both weeks 

Vladimir Ryabinin is the former executive secretary for the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission at UNESCO. In this role, he proposed and led the UN Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development. Prior to that, he was the senior science officer of the World Climate Research Program coordinating global research on the ocean, atmospheric chemistry, sea-level rise and more. His background includes being an oceanographer, climatologist and marine engineer. He is also a laureate of the Compass International Award of the Marine Technology Society for his contributions to the advancement of marine science and technology. At COP30, Ryabinin will serve as an advisor to the Scripps delegation.

Anya Štajner, Scripps PhD Candidate

Attending week one

Anya Štajner is a Scripps PhD candidate in the biological oceanography program studying zooplankton ecology. She researches the impact of ocean acidification on the California Current system by using sea butterflies as a biological indicator of ocean health. “I look forward to standing with the Scripps delegation at COP30 so that I can connect with other individuals determined to pave a sustainable future for people, plankton and the planet,” said Štajner. 

Max Titcomb, Scripps PhD Student

Attending week one

Max Titcomb is a Scripps PhD student whose work bridges fisheries management and historical ecology. He uses sedimentary DNA and citizen science survey data to reconstruct long-term fish population change and disentangle the roles of climate stress and extraction, with current projects in the Caribbean and the California Current. At COP30, Titcomb will moderate a panel discussion, “Fish for the Future: How to Build Climate-Resilient Fisheries,” which explores how overfishing and climate shocks interact. “I am excited to connect my findings on climate-vulnerable Caribbean fisheries with managers and policymakers who can translate that science into future adaptation decisions,” said Titcomb. 

Meenakshi Wadhwa, Director of Scripps Oceanography

Attending week one

Meenakshi Wadhwa is the director of Scripps Institution of Oceanography, vice chancellor for marine sciences at UC San Diego and dean of the School of Marine, Earth and Atmospheric Sciences. Wadhwa is an award-winning planetary scientist interested in the time scales and processes involved in the formation and evolution of the solar system and planets. Prior to joining UC San Diego, Wadhwa was director of the School of Earth and Space Exploration at Arizona State University and served as NASA’s principal scientist for the Mars Sample Return program. She is an elected member of the National Academy of Sciences (NAS), as well as a recipient of the J. Lawrence Smith Medal from NAS and the Nier Prize from the Meteoritical Society. She is a fellow of the American Geophysical Union, the Meteoritical Society, the Geochemical Society and the European Association of Geochemistry.

Marley Weiss, Scripps PhD Student 

Attending week one

Marley Weiss is a Scripps PhD student researching marine chemistry and geochemistry. His work explores the intersection between the carbon cycle and iron availability as part of the California Current Ecosystem - Long-Term Ecological Research program. His studies focus primarily on diatoms, the impact that they have on carbon export and sequestration in coastal upwelling regions, and how these regions may change due to climate change. Weiss also conducted research at Scripps related to long-term hydrogen peroxide dynamics in the surface ocean. He is a YouTube content creator who leads Planet Zero - Climate Change, a channel dedicated to climate science communication. “I hope to meet more science communicators and get more experience educating broad audiences about climate relevant science,” said Weiss.

Anthony Wilson, Scripps PhD Candidate 

Attending week one

Anthony Wilson is a Scripps PhD candidate whose work centers on climate extremes. More recently, his focus has been on terrestrial heatwaves and looking into what constrains and what sets a heatwave. By looking at the hottest heatwaves globally, he hopes to better understand the predictability of heatwaves for population centers globally. At COP30, Wilson will be on a panel, “Top 5 Ocean Action Items to Watch at COP30,” speaking on the top issues impacting our oceans alongside other scientists. “I am excited to connect with other scientists and policymakers globally on how to make more heat resilient cities,” said Wilson.