Nafisa Marei

17|Amman, Jordan

Nafisa is a high school junior who uses the arts to increase environmental awareness in and for climate-vulnerable communities. Her fascination with the natural world started when she saw someone growing mushrooms from a box of mycelium at a farmers’ market in Boston. She was instantly hooked and soon became the youngest member of the Mycological Society of San Francisco.

Nafisa believes that the most effective solutions to our world’s ecological challenges lie at the intersection of nature and innovation. She has immersed herself in aquaponics and permaculture and is always looking to learn more about biomimetic alternatives to modern technologies.

Outside of environmental pursuits, she can be found sparring in her Brazilian jiu-jitsu dojo, bottle-feeding abandoned kittens, and baking with the help of her “pet” sourdough starter that she refuses to name.