Ana Sotelo Romero has been awarded the 2026 AGI Next Horizons First-Generation Student Geoscience Scholarship. Ana recently graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Madison with a Bachelor of Science in Geology & Geophysics, Cartography & GIS and she is starting her first year as a doctoral student in hydrogeology at the University of Minnesota Twin Cities, School of Earth and Environmental Sciences.
Ms. Sotelo Romero has joined a multidisciplinary project in Dr. Gene-Hua Crystal Ng’s lab focusing on retreating glaciers and their impact on shifting water supplies in the Ecuadorian Andes. Her specific research interest is water quantity, quality, and streamflow for agrarian Indigenous communities using a holistic approach – striving to show that community-driven science leads to more ethical, impactful, and sustainable outcomes.
I am beyond thankful for receiving this scholarship and excited to start my graduate school journey. This award will help make the transition to the University of Minnesota – Twin Cities easier and allow me to acquire the fieldwork necessities to grow as a hydrogeologist! I am most looking forward to connecting with affected communities and addressing their environmental concerns.
— Ana Sotelo Romero
After graduate school, Ana plans to continue with exploratory research on tropical volcanic watersheds to help reduce the effects of climate change and glacial melt.
Please join us in congratulating Ana on her accomplishments and wishing her future success!