Summer 2026 Research Spotlight: LMU Coastal Research Institute Interns Support Dune Restoration Across LA Beaches

This summer, four students from the Frank R. Seaver College of Science and Engineering at Loyola Marymount University spent six weeks monitoring and surveying sand dune habitats across various Los Angeles County beaches through a partnership between the LMU Coastal Research Institute and The Bay Foundation.

During the summer semester, Kate Stafford '29, a biology major, Natashia Prabhakaran '28, an environmental science major, Stephen Cummings '27, an environmental science major, and Chloe Torres '29, a health and human sciences major, collected plant and wildlife data at sand dune restoration sites maintained by The Bay Foundation across Manhattan Beach, Santa Monica, Malibu, and Playa del Rey.

The student researchers tracked plant and wildlife populations, monitored dune restoration progress, collected and processed seeds, and analyzed ecological data to help evaluate the long-term health of restoration sites.

The interns worked under the mentorship of LMU environmental science alumna Cassandra Erickson '25, coastal adaptation program coordinator at The Bay Foundation, and Tom Ford, co-executive director of the Coastal Research Institute, CEO of The Bay Foundation, and senior lecturer in environmental science at LMU.

"This research is important because sand dunes are essential to protecting Southern California's beaches against sea level rise, coastal flooding, and erosion," said Stafford.

"Sand dunes also provide habitats for endangered species, such as the El Segundo Blue Butterfly and the Western Snowy Plover," added Prabhakaran.

Throughout the summer, the interns worked as a collaborative team, dividing responsibilities while gaining experience with every aspect of the research process.

"We divided tasks when it came to monitoring and surveying the sites, taking turns recording vegetation coverage, seedling counts, and insect and bird surveys," Prabhakaran said.

The student researchers learned how to transcribe, manage, and analyze the data they collected using Excel. "We also took photos at specific points to monitor visually how the dunes have progressed over the years," Stafford said.

The team also collected seeds in the field, brought them back to campus, dried and processed them, and stored them for future use in dune restoration projects.

The experience gave Seaver College students a deeper appreciation for the complexity of environmental research and restoration work. "The most interesting thing I learned during the process was how much work and how difficult it actually is to set up these dune restoration sites in terms of permits and public access," Cummings said.

Beyond the fieldwork and data collection, the students found the summer experience rewarding because of the people they worked alongside.

"I didn't expect to make such close friends, and I'm very thankful that I did," Stafford said. "I've made memories this summer that I will never forget."

These LMU students had the opportunity to get hands-on research experience in the field while helping to protect and restore Southern California's coastal ecosystems for future generations.