Shay is a third-year student at UC Davis in California, majoring in wildlife biology with aspirations of becoming a research scientist. Shay has been a youth leader with Heirs To Our Ocean (H2OO) since the founders of the organization gave a presentation to her seventh-grade class. She grew up in a small coastal town with abundant agriculture and wildlife.
H2OO helped her process firsthand impacts of environmental degradation, including evacuations from a historic complex of wildfires and attending a school with unsafe water contaminated by nitrates, and turn her experiences into advocacy. Her journey with H2OO has included leading chapter projects such as brand audits, educational presentations, and both local and national political advocacy. She has also served as a member and Alumna Support Team Intern of the U.S. Youth Action Council for the UN Ocean Decade, attended various summits and conferences—including multiple Summit for Empowerment, Action, and Leadership (SEAL) events—and taken on other leadership roles.
Experiences from her time with H2OO, such as intercultural and intergenerational communication, exposure to current science and policy, and empathetic leadership training, have been instrumental in shaping her critical thinking and dedication to addressing global challenges through communication and connection. The relationships Shay has formed with other members of H2OO have helped Shay develop her values as a human and how she wants to move through the world.
While hoping to become a scientist, she also hopes to be a scientific communicator who can model intersectional and international collaboration on environmental issues, help bring the most at-risk voices to the table in advocating for climate justice, and make meaningful contributions to both grassroots community projects and national policy frameworks. Shay hopes to leave future generations with a world she is proud of. She currently serves as a Global Youth Leader with H2OO.

SHAY MUÑOZ BARTON
(she / her)
CALIFORNIA, U.S.
(she / her)
CALIFORNIA, U.S.