College of Science student Natalie Donato has been named a 2025 Udall Scholar in the Environmental category, one of only 55 students across the country to receive the prestigious national award recognizing leadership, public service and commitment to environmental issues.
Donato, a third-year Honors College student majoring in marine biology and ecology with a minor in biological data science, is the only Oregon State student to receive the award this year. She joins a select group of scholars chosen from 381 nominees representing 175 colleges and universities nationwide.
Originally from Folsom, California, Donato has already received multiple accolades for her academic excellence and environmental engagement. Earlier this year, she was also named a 2025 Goldwater Scholar, making her one of a small number of students nationally to earn both honors in the same year.
At the Hatfield Marine Science Center in Newport, Donato works in the Big Fish Lab with shark expert Taylor Chapple, where she combines biological research with cutting-edge digital tools. Her current project uses 3D photogrammetry to model shark heads, mapping their electroreceptor pores, specialized structures that allow sharks to sense electrical fields in the ocean.
By integrating this digital modeling with her marine biology research, Donato aims to improve scientific understanding of how sharks use their senses to hunt and navigate. Just as important to her is translating that science for public audiences. Through data visualization and digital art, she wants to make marine biology more accessible and inspire others to care about the ocean. Click here to learn more about the Oregon state license plate she created.
