Alaina Zhang

Alaina Zhang is a high school senior, environmental researcher, and policy advocate passionate about science-driven climate solutions. She is the lead author of two research projects on sugar kelp’s role in nutrient removal and coastal resilience—one currently under review by Frontiers in Marine Science—and has presented her findings at the American Geophysical Union Annual Meeting as one of its youngest oral presenters. Her kelp biofiltration model earned multiple top awards from EPA, NASA, NOAA, the U.S. Air Force, and the Rhode Island Clean Water Association.

Alaina’s work goes beyond the lab. She has collaborated with the Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management, contributed to the IOC-UNESCO Challenge 10 white paper, and advocated for ocean restoration policies on Capitol Hill as a UN Ocean Decade Youth Representative. She also leads environmental outreach as a NOAA Ocean Guardian Ambassador, co-president of her school’s Environmental Science Club, and co-leader of Ecotopia, an NGO supporting youth-led sustainability projects.

Alaina regularly gives back to the community by hosting lectures and teaching elementary students about her environmental journey and aims to continue advancing environmental justice through research, education, and public policy.