Everything is connected—from the air we breathe to the water we drink. Dr. Tracy Fanara, known globally as Inspector Planet, is an environmental engineer and science communicator who transforms data into action to protect people and ecosystems.

Dr. Fanara is a familiar face in media, appearing on Discovery Channel’s Shark Week and MythBusters, National Geographic, The Weather Channel, FOX, and ABC. Through these collaborations, she makes complex science accessible and inspires public engagement in environmental protection.

Her company, Inspector Planet, LLC, advances that same mission—connecting education, partnerships, and storytelling to turn lessons of resilience, resourcefulness, and relentlessness into collective action. From classrooms to coastlines, Tracy Fanara is building a world where science serves people—and where protecting water means protecting life itself.

Ricardo Padilla, Jr. is an award-winning educational leader and strategic advisor with eighteen years of dedicated experience building college and career pathways, particularly for underrepresented students. Currently serving as the Programs Manager for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in STEM at Santa Clara University’s School of Engineering, where he also recently held the position of Co-Interim Assistant Dean, Ricardo drives the strategic vision for mentoring, retention, and DEI initiatives across the university. His work is centered on hands-on management, conflict resolution, and developing collaborative support communities that have successfully enhanced student enrollment and experience, earning him accolades like the 2024 Inclusive Excellence Award. As a bi-lingual professional and expert in project management, he leverages his strong communication and relationship-building skills to cultivate effective partnerships, whether managing university programs or leading community outreach for Inspector Planet.

Sophie Bryden is a passionate environmentalist who got her M.S. in environmental policy from the University of Michigan and a B.S. in Environmental and Natural Resources from Clemson University. Currently she is serving as the communications specialist for Project ENKI. She believes it is imperative that people understand their environment so they can defend it.