Hello! I’m Zoe (zo-E) Kanavas (can-ah-viss), and I am finishing up my Ph.D. in Water Resources Engineering at the University of California, Davis. I am a born and raised Wisconsinite, growing up in the ‘burbs of Milwaukee before heading to the University of Wisconsin, Madison, where I earned a dual B.S. in Geological Engineering and Geophysics.
My Ph.D. dissertation focuses on the fundamental physics that drives groundwater flow at extremely small scales, using computational fluid dynamics, statistical analysis, and machine learning to do so. In other words, I study how water and pollutants travel underground to improve the quality and quantity of drinking water. My expertise is in groundwater and, more broadly, natural resource management.
Growing up, I have notoriously been the tree-hugger of the family. During family vacations to Florida (a very Midwestern vacation), my sister and I would go walk the beach. While my sister would return with shells and shark teeth, I would come back with a bucket full of plastic.
I began to formalize my love for the environment as an undergraduate. Throughout my bachelor’s, I found myself drawn to issues resolving water rights and access. I decided I needed more education to position myself to significantly impact these issues and moved out to California to pursue a doctorate in Water Resources Engineering.
My interest in the intersection of science and policy was sparked during the coinciding COVID-19 pandemic and the social justice movement in 2020. I realized that environmental justice was this perfect blend of environmentalism and the social justice tenets that drove me outside my work. At this time, I began my involvement in Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) committees within my professional society - the American Geophysical Union (AGU), where I now serve as the Committee Liaison between the various DEI committees within AGU.
In addition to my DEI-related work, I have found ways to apply my science and academic training to the policy realm. This has been through various positions within AGU, the Federation of American Scientists, and the National Science Policy Network. Through these experiences, I’ve gained the essential communication and professional skills necessary to thrive in policy while also gaining insight into Californian issues and their policymaking process. As I enter the workforce, I look forward to a career focused on the equitable distribution of water resources, especially in underserved communities.