Natalia Szklaruk works to bridge the gap between scientific knowledge and public understanding. As an aquatic invasive species educator, she equips the public with essential tools, knowledge, and resources to prevent the introduction and proliferation of non-native plants and animals in southern Lake Michigan and beyond. She also leads the Invasive Crayfish Collaborative by improving outreach capabilities and the collective management of invasive crayfish in the Great Lakes region.  

Natalia received both her B.S. and M.S. in environmental science at Loyola University Chicago, specializing in aquatic invasive species research. She is also a moderator of r/crayfish on Reddit, helping educate users on responsible crayfish practices and invasive species prevention.