This student story is one of five winners of the Summer Writing Awards as part of the 2026 NASW Perlman Virtual Mentoring Program organized by the NASW Education Committee, providing science journalism experience for undergraduate and graduate students.
Story by Beverly Casillas
Mentored and edited by Nancy Averett
This article is currently being pitched to news outlets. Check back here for updates.
Main image caption: A pile of rope and debris supports a fragile ecosystem of marine life, including sponges, corals, and fish. Credit: Tokea Payton.
Beverly is an engineer, artist, and writer for Space Scout, a volunteer-run news outlet covering the space industry. She is passionate about the human element in science and technology and enjoys making complex subjects accessible to a wide audience. Beverly holds a B.S. in Aerospace Engineering from Texas A&M University and an M.S. in Space Architecture from the University of Houston. You can find her on LinkedIn or email her at casi.bev@gmail.com.
