Growing up in the small community of Nipomo in San Luis Obispo County, David J.X. Gonzalez witnessed firsthand how oil drilling and environmental hazards shaped the health and landscape of his community. One of the most lasting examples was the Guadalupe-Nipomo Dunes disaster, an oil spill that left persistent contamination in a fragile coastal dune ecosystem and caused long-term environmental damage that affected both wildlife and nearby residents. Those early experiences — along with a serious childhood illness that kept him out of school for extended periods — shaped his understanding of health and inspired a lasting commitment to preventing disease and addressing environmental injustice. “When I think about how I got to where I am today, I think of wanting to make sure that every kid grows up with a chance to live a happy, healthy life,” he says. Today, as an environmental health researcher, Gonzalez studies how environmental exposures contribute to disease and health dispariti...