12/08/2025
Rios following her passions as a double major in EES and Spanish translation and interpretation
Isabella Rios, an Honors College senior, forged a unique and interdisciplinary journey at UTA through her passions for environmental science and languages. Why it matters: Rios discovered geology in her freshman year and was drawn to the hands-on fieldwork. She now studies geology with a concentration in environmental science and added a second major in Spanish translation and interpretation following a summer study abroad program in Salamanca, Spain. Going deeper: Since her sophomore year, she has conducted research in Un-Jung Kim’s lab, analyzing contaminants such as PAHs, PFAs, PCBs, and microplastics. Her honors thesis focuses on disinfection byproducts in local children’s splash parks. She has presented at conferences, earned major scholarships, and participated in programs including McNair, inSTEM, I-Engage, and CU Boulder’s SMART program, where she won the Best Visual Poster Presentation award.
Rios following her passions as a double major in EES and Spanish translation and interpretation