Joining us today is the Ecosystem and Resilience Scientist of the Everglades Foundation – Dr. Meenakshi Chabba. She is here to talk about her advanced knowledge of Everglades ecosystem science and resilience planning for South Florida’s natural and built environment. She is especially passionate about how Everglades restoration -- and decision-making around that restoration -- affects ecological and economic outcomes across the ecosystem.  Prior to joining the Foundation, Meenakshi was a Research Analyst with the USAID-funded Disaster Risk and Resilience in the Americas Program at Florida International University’s (FIU) Extreme Events Institute, where she performed economic evaluations of approximately 20 USAID risk reduction projects and was the program’s lead science writer. Meenakshi’s research has contributed to the fields of financial decision-making in risk management, valuation of ecosystem services in policymaking, and the inclusion of sustainability, economic efficiency, and social equity in resilience planning for climate change. Meenakshi has also taught Biology and Ecology at the undergraduate and high school levels.  Meenakshi earned a Ph.D. in Earth Systems Science from FIU, a master's degree in environmental studies from FIU, and a master’s in Zoology from the University of Delhi.  In today’s episode, you will learn that the Everglades is so much more than just a natural habitat for over 2,000 animal species. The Everglades also provides drinking water to over 40% of Florida’s population and plays a crucial role in the state’s economy. It is also one of our greatest tools in mitigating the effects of climate change and sea-level rise in this most vulnerable area of the country.   So, let’s dive in with The Everglades Foundation.    LINKS:   https://www.evergladesfoundation.org/  https://www.evergladesliteracy.org/  IG: @evergladesfoundation