CSP class of 2025 student Chamonix Toledo received the Denice Denton Award for her work to promote diversity and equity in STEM at UC Santa Cruz. The selection committee noted the breadth of Chamonix’s DEI work, stating “You have clearly made access and equity in science a core part of your work!”
Chamonix says of her work, “My work is very DEI/STEM-centric, prioritizing marine ecology research that is answering the questions of indigenous communities in Micronesia. I work in both social and natural sciences, centering Indigenous leadership and community questions in collaborative research for small-island communities (typically in low-lying areas, at risk of climate change impacts, etc.).” She recently completed an “Equity Minded Mentoring” Certificate Program, to further her knowledge of equitable practices in academic mentorship.
Becca Fenwick, director of the UC Santa Cruz CITRIS Initiative for Drone Education and Research, who nominated Chamonix for this award, states, “Chamonix has DEI at the center of all she does and brings her compassion, awareness, and insight into her research, teaching, and other activities.” Chamonix worked with the program, said Fenwick, to “create a welcoming and supportive community for students of all academic backgrounds as they delve into the use and applications of drones for STEM research.”
Chamonix also ran the 2024 Diverse Voices in Fisheries Science seminar series for the Santa Cruz Monterey Bay Area Subunit (SCMBAS) and is currently the DEI Chair for UC Santa Cruz. This is a new position that she developed with the plan to shift it to an “Indigenous and Community Fisheries” position for next year. The idea is that by creating this position and giving it a more applicable name it will inspire more involvement from students who are BIPOC or Indigenous and work in fisheries that are relevant to their communities.
Mentoring students is something that Chamonix is especially passionate about, and she works closely with the UCSC Smith Society, a community that offers friendship and support across generations to students who grew up facing multiple adversities. Because of her work and support she was recently invited to join the Smith Society board of directors to support their efforts in providing opportunities and financial aid to students who were wards of the court, foster youth, formerly incarcerated, had parents who were mentally ill, etc. She mentors many of these students, working with them to find undergraduate research opportunities, apply for grad school, and provide much needed support on their journeys through UCSC and beyond.
Additionally, Chamonix was also recognized with the 2024 Jessica L Roy Memorial Award, given to students whose work focuses on issues of equity and poverty in international development, especially in relation to women and the environment. Chamonix’s CSP capstone project was noted, in particular her “methods involving preparing young women for opportunities in marine sciences.” For her capstone project, Chamonix is working closely with the Indigenous and community leaders in Palau to support their research efforts and conservation initiatives. Along with researchers at Stanford and community scientists, she will support the collection of baseline data for Palau’s newly secured seagrass protected area on the island of Ngerkeklau. Chamonix says, “Gathering both social and natural science data, just after the marine protected area designation, provides a baseline understanding of the socio-ecological system and takes into account the cultural significance and impact of setting aside land for conservation.”
As part of her work in Palau, Chamonix is teaching a course entitled “Decolonizing Environmental Social Science Research” in partnership with the Ebiil Society’s educators and researchers. Using Palauan methodologies and epistemologies, she will support students in developing clear, focused, complex and feasible research questions, examining and comparing common approaches to interviewing, and evaluating a clear decolonizing research framework.
Congratulations, Chamonix, we are proud of you!
