Scripps students represent ocean interests at COP23
Mar 30, 2018
Madeleine Hamann
Scripps students represent ocean interests at COP23

Maddie Hamann grew up in a small town north of Columbus, Ohio. She studied Civil and Environmental Engineering at the University of Notre Dame, and during her undergraduate studies she conducted research with coastal engineers and hurricane modelers that led her to discover the unfamiliar world of physical oceanography. She is now in her fifth year of graduate study in Physical Oceanography at Scripps Institution of Oceanography and has spent over 150 days aboard research vessels observing dynamics that drive turbulence and mixing in the ocean. Her thesis work is focused on observations made in the La Jolla Submarine Canyon, wherein persistent turbulence drives deep, nutrient-rich water into the vibrant Marine Room ecosystem.

In addition to observing and understanding the ocean, Maddie is deeply interested in how our scientific understanding of the planet can be communicated to and reflected in the daily lives of people everywhere. She attended COP23—the 23rd UN climate change summit—to learn about the international community’s efforts in climate change policy. She is also currently the lead artist for a large art installation called Ocean Tunnel that is intended to communicate how ocean ecosystems are affected by climate change and unsustainable fishing practices.