Elizabeth Benyshek will join the 2024 Hawai‘i Sea Grant Knauss cohort as a legislative fellow working in the Office of Senator Ossoff of Georgia. Elizabeth was born and raised in Georgia and is eager to work for her home state. She will gain experience navigating the legislative session at the federal level, collaborating with key policymakers and networking with professionals to fight strategically for a more resilient and sustainable future. Elizabeth is excited to bridge the gap between her scientific research and her passion for community outreach while supporting the protection of marine resources through policy. She hopes to develop new skill sets and knowledge about broader outcomes and solutions associated with marine and coastal management during her time in the Knauss Fellowship.

Elizabeth received her PhD and master of science degrees in geophysics from the School of Ocean and Earth Science and Technology at the University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa. Her PhD dissertation focused on active tectonic processes in the Papua New Guinea-Solomon Islands region in the southwest Pacific. She specialized in seafloor mapping projects involving large datasets such as seafloor topography, seismicity, and gravity. In addition to her academic work, she served as the volunteer chair of the O‘ahu Chapter of the Surfrider Foundation from 2021 to 2023, advocating for legislative priorities including climate action, clean water protection, and plastic reduction.