Born and raised in Toronto, Canada, Lauren holds a Master of Forest Conservation from The University of Toronto and a Master of Conservation Science from The University of Queensland. Her research background spans forest, community and landscape ecology, with a focus on understanding the impacts of human activity on biodiversity across urban and natural systems. Lauren’s work has also included applied research in environmental stewardship and spatial analysis to inform real-world conservation outcomes.

Through SAEF, Lauren wants to contribute to interdisciplinary Antarctic research that bridges science, policy, and government decision-making, with a focus on strengthening conservation planning and supporting evidence-based approaches to protecting Antarctica’s unique and rapidly changing ecosystems.

I want to help secure Antarctica’s environmental future because protecting fragile ecosystems from growing human pressures is essential to conserving global biodiversity and ensuring these unique environments persist for future generations.

— Lauren Ohayon