Aeris Melody Johnson is a current undergraduate student majoring in both Anthropology and Political Science. Her interests include the role of Agroecology in the modern world, water politics and regulations, Indigenous sovereignty, and analyzing the interconnectedness of communities and the environment around them.  She has previously written a paper titled “Hydrosocial Contamination” which tackled the invisibility of underground water basin contamination in Orange County, and reflecting on different stakeholders reactions and understanding of contamination sites and their impact.  Aeris is currently working with the Climate Change and Environmental Justice Program team, developing 11th and 12th grade curriculum for the state of California.  

In the future Aeris plans to research indigenous sovereignty in the San Joaquin Valley and surrounding areas and the role Indigenous people play in caring for and protecting valuable natural resources such as water, land, and air.  Aeris would also like to examine how the modern world has evolved due to agricultural practices and how we can protect the vitality of both civilization and its cradle through agroecology.