Oscar Morales is an enthusiastic and driven person with a strong interest in unraveling the dynamics of human populations and their relationship to the environment, the economy, and societal structures. Born in Houston, Texas to Mexican immigrants, in a worn-down apartment complex nestled in the southern part of the city, Oscar’s concern and fascination with the way populations influenced socio-economic development was ignited by the diverse, despondent, and urbanized environment he grew up in. Understanding the struggle of everyday people and recognizing the seemingly untamable forces of rampant inequality and population growth ignited Oscar’s interest in studying the effects of such dynamics on human wellbeing. Driven by a deep curiosity of the world, Oscar pursued dual degrees in Mathematics and Economics at the University of Houston where he excelled academically and took part in exciting research projects on subjects like climate change, affordable housing, and financial forecasting, making memorable connections along the way with those around him. His minor in Computer Science has further complemented his competencies by allowing him to efficiently rely on various software for data work. Beyond his academic ambitions, Oscar likes to spend time with friends and family and is an avid reader who enjoys the outdoors. He also enjoys photography and capturing the beauty of life, from both the natural world and everyday life. He hopes to leverage the strong foundations he’s built over the past few years to elevate his understanding of demographic phenomena to effectively collaborate with those around him on pushing the boundaries of our understanding of human populations and how they act as an influencing force on the world.