Serova, a Hekaran female
The Hekarans are a humanoid civilization native to planet Hekaras II, and members of the Federation.
In the late 2360s, Hekaran scientists Serova and Rabal discovered that the region of space near their planet known as the Hekaras Corridor was very susceptible to warp field effects. They approached the Federation Council with their concerns about the damage caused by warp travel through it. They further tried to persuade the council and their own people to avoid the use of warp travel in the area, even thought it would mean the almost total isolation of their planet. When their theories were dismissed the two scientists first mined the corridor with verteron pulse producing devices in order to gain Starfleet's attention. When this method appeared to have unsatisfactory results, Serova, in 2370, caused a warp core breach on her ship, killing herself, but creating a subspace rupture in the Hekaras corridor and making it unsuitable for warp travel. Following the incident, the scientists' theories were taken seriously. Unfortunately, due to the gravitational shifts following the formation of the rift, the climate of Hekaras II began to change. As a short-term measure, Starfleet was able to assist the Hekarans with a weather control matrix. (TNG: "Force of Nature")