Olivia Kaiaua

Olivia’s journey is rooted in her Kiribati heritage and the deep ties her community holds with the ocean. As rising sea levels threaten her island, she feels a responsibility to understand how coastal communities around the world are responding to climate change. Guided by a desire to go beyond labs and classrooms, Olivia seeks to learn directly from the people whose lives are intertwined with the water and how these people are navigating loss and resilience in a changing world. Through this journey, Olivia hopes to cultivate a global perspective that will shape her future work in environmental policy and advocacy.