Looking to the past to prepare for an uncertain future

Using sand and rock, MIT senior Aviva Intveld tells stories of ancient climates. Aviva Intveld, an MIT senior majoring in Earth, atmospheric, and planetary sciences, is accustomed to city life. But despite hailing from metropolitan Los Angeles, she has always maintained a love for the outdoors. "Growing up in L.A., you just have a wealth of resources when it comes to beautiful environments," she says, "but you're also constantly living connected to the environment." She developed a profound respect for the natural world and its effects on people, from the earthquakes that shook the ground to the wildfires that displaced inhabitants. "I liked the lifestyle that environmental science afforded," Intveld recalls. "I liked the idea that you can make a career out of spending a huge amount of time in the field and exploring different parts of the world." From the moment she arrived at MIT, Intveld threw herself into research on and off campus. During her first semester, she joined Terrascope, a program that encourages first-year students to tackle complex, real-world problems.