Kalila is an ocean and atmosphere nerd with a love of getting muddy, a compulsive habit of writing things down, and multiple pairs of science-themed socks. She wears these socks to work at the Ocean Portal, where she is an intern, and to school at Columbia University, where she studies earth science and nonfiction writing. In her writing and her life, Kalila gets very excited about communicating science to people, especially if it's climate science or has something to do with baby birds. When not writing, Kalila enjoys hiking, attempting to identify different kinds of rocks, and purchasing new pairs of science-themed socks. To date, she has held an osprey chick, touched a dolphin, and kissed a codfish, but she has yet to shake hands with an octopus.