Margaret Leinen, the warm and inspiring director of the Scripps Institution of Oceanography, is the first “star” in The Constellation, a new interview series presented by Sally Ride Science@ UC San Diego featuring women enjoying successful and satisfying lives in science.

Leinen describes how her early interest in rocks led to a career in protecting the seas. Among the highlights – leading the UC delegation to the international climate talks in Paris. She and her colleagues spread the word that climate change is leaving the oceans “hot, sour and breathless.”

For more on Paris and new projects at Scripps, watch The Constellation: Margaret Leinen.