Nitya is a rising high school senior from Sammamish, Washington. Her close proximity to forests and the US coast has fostered a love for animals and the environment since a young age. This love for nature has developed into a continuing passion for educating her community about the urgency of mitigating climate change. Through volunteering at the Seattle Aquarium, she has had the opportunity to learn about and advocate for conserving the rich biodiversity contained in the Salish Sea and other local water bodies. Outside of school and marine conservation, Nitya is an Indian classical dancer who enjoys using the art form to share stories and foster an appreciation of dance and music in audiences. Excited to participate in the ResilienSEA Externship, she hopes to to seek innovative solutions to climate change by diving into the unfamiliar world of sustainable aquaculture.