Roxanne Beltran

Dr. Roxanne Beltran is a professor at the University of California Santa Cruz who studies how animals thrive in some of the world’s most extreme environments—from deep ocean basins to Antarctic shorelines. She was chosen as one of The Explorers Club 50 in 2025, recognizing impactful people doing remarkable work to promote science and exploration.

Her research on elephant seals, Weddell seals, and other mammals and birds uses satellite tracking and long-term data to understand movement, behavior, and resilience in a changing climate. Roxanne is especially interested in what individual animals can teach us. By combining cutting-edge technology with long-term mark-recapture studies, she and her team uncover how differences in individual traits shape survival and success in the wild.

An open ocean ecologist and passionate educator, Roxanne’s work includes leading immersive field programs that connect students with nature and science. From California’s elephant seal rookeries and remote islands in Alaska to the icy waters of the Southern Ocean, she combines hands-on research and storytelling to inspire action. She believes that awe and empathy are powerful tools for protecting wild places and the animals that call them home.

 

Language spoken: English