My name is Miranda Silano, and I am currently a graduate student in the Department of Geosciences at Auburn University working towards my M.S. in Geography. In August of 2021, I graduated with my B.S. in Geology from the University of Florida. There, I had a research focus on vertebrate paleontology, paleoclimatology, and paleoecology. I used stable isotope geochemistry to examine how climate influences ecological relationships between carnivores and their preferred prey; even to the point of causing the extinction of certain species. My research showed me the power of climate in organisms’ lives. I also participated in outreach events through my university, where I was able to engage with K-12 students on multiple occasions. I found this work rewarding enough to help me think not only as a scientist but as a scientist who has a duty; to communicate relevant science to benefit someone else.

 

I grew up in Southwest Florida, where I firsthand became subjected to hazards such as hurricanes. While living there, I not only lived through certain hazards, but I also experienced the importance of coastal features like beaches, bays, and estuaries, to the local communities. The beautiful coasts of the Gulf of Mexico serve a recreational purpose, but also serve as an economic stimulus by bringing in tourism, real estate, and small businesses to those communities. Sometimes, the best way to learn and care for our planet is by experiencing the beauty of nature first-hand; coastal cities are a great way to accomplish this mission. However, with increasing hazards from climate change, this impression-making experience can be taken away from future generations.

 

A combination of my academic interest and personal experiences is what propelled me to study how certain hazards are being affected by climate change. To add on, my outreach made me interested in learning how people and their communities are affected by these changes, and what we can do to make them more resilient. Climate has shaped the history of life on Earth, and it will continue to do so. However, by understanding the forces that do this, we as scientists can help communities improve on their current ways of resisting these hazards and fill in the gaps as well. At Auburn, I am also a trainee in the NSF (National Science Foundation) Research Traineeship (NRT): a program devoted to teaching its trainees to be the next leaders in building resilient communities. Through this traineeship, I will be provided unique opportunities to work with stakeholders to expose me to the different career opportunities that are available in the resiliency field. In the future, I would like to be in a position where I can use my knowledge as a scientist, in combination with the skills and connections from NRT, to help build communities that will be resilient to the changing climate of the future.

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Please feel free to click on the link to my Curriculum Vitae below to get a more comprehensive view of my academic and professional accomplishments. The photos to the right demonstrate my involvement in the field during my undergraduate career. Being able to participate in field work and field activities helped me to apply what I know by learning concepts and then seeing them physically appear.