Vinicius (Vini) Souza is a second year masters student in the Hughes marine ecology lab (graduating at the end of 2023). A an avid surfer and photographer, Vini’s love and passion for the ocean started at a very young age and was influential in helping him pursue a career as a marine scientist. Vini transferred from the Santa Rosa Junior College in 2017 and received his B.S. in marine biology from the University of California Santa Cruz in 2019. Now an AAUS certified scientific diver, he’s executed scientific research, marine fieldwork, and underwater surveys in Corsica, Monterey, Sonoma, and Mendocino. Currently in the Hughes lab, Vini is working on several large-scale kelp restoration projects that aim to further understand kelp enhancement methods and approaches that can be used to boost bull kelp productivity in a limited recovery environment. In addition, his thesis focuses on the affects of kelp ecotones on adult and recruit population and community assemblages, and will aid in identifying recovery hotspots and informing proactive marine management planning.