After living in the wilderness of Wisconsin during the summer of 2009, I discovered my passion for fieldwork and aquatic ecosystems. I followed this passion to the tropical areas of Costa Rica and to the dry, rural communities of Nicaragua. After immersing myself in the diverse culture of Central America, I decided to build on my environmental science background by integrating social science into my research. As a National Geographic Young Explorer I plan to continue researching the relationship between science and society while exploring the awe-inspiring Lake Atitlan and working with the Maya fishing community that relies on this changing lake.