Katie is a scientific diver for UC Davis and California’s Department of Fish and Wildlife. She studies the health of kelp forests and invertebrate populations from northern California down to the Baja Peninsula. Specifically, Katie works to rebuild abalone populations affected by climate change and human influence. Katie is the primary photographer for her dive team and is committed to using her photography to connect lawmakers and the public with marine wildlife they would never personally encounter. She dedicates this award to the memory of Athena Maguire, underwater photographer and recipient of two WDHOF scholarships.