Vikesh Dheeriya

Bio

Vikesh is a third-year undergraduate pursuing a B.S. in Hydrologic Science and Policy with a minor in Philosophy at the University of California, Santa Barbara. His research focuses on modeling elephant movement patterns in Southern Africa under various climate scenarios, aiming to predict how barriers to connectivity will evolve over time. By applying remote sensing and GIS, Vikesh specializes in analyzing the impact of ephemeral surface water on elephant movement. Beyond his research, Vikesh serves as the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Coordinator for UCSB’s Hydrology Club, where he works to expand access to water-related fields for underrepresented groups. In his free time, he enjoys developing plant-based recipes for his cookbook, playing sports, and swimming in the ocean.