Students say at international symposium they learned more about coral reefs, preservation issues and research techniques that will prepare for their future careers
BYU–Hawaii aspiring marine biologists shared their remarkable experiences at the 5th Asia-Pacific Coral Reef Symposium hosted by the National University of Singapore in June 2023 and how the symposium has inspired their future plans.
The theme of the symposium was “Coral reef science and management in a rapidly changing world,” said Caitlin Alder, a junior majoring in marine biology from Utah. She said meeting a community that shared a subject she was passionate about made it an empowering and collaborative experience. “I learned about a large variety of reef-related projects around the globe, expanding my interest in coral reef research focused on restoration effectiveness.”
Sahara Schroader, a senior majoring in marine biology from Arizona, said, “Attending the symposium early in my career has helped prepare me for a future in the science and research community.” She shared her experience attending presentations about using different coral monitoring techniques like ReefCloud, which uses AI for coral reefs to provide accurate information. “This was very interesting to me due to the potential for practical application necessary to prevent further degradation of coral reefs,” she added.
Britni Hull, a senior from California majoring in marine biology, said it was fascinating to learn other research on environmental DNA and the different approaches in collection and processing. She shared about one presentation that discussed how medications flushed into sewer systems affect coral by making them more prone to erosion. "This increased my curiosity and desire to do more research in the future,” Hull said.
Exploring passion through networking
According to Schroader, learning from a diverse group of scientists, researchers and other professionals who share a passion for protecting and preserving vulnerable coral reef ecosystems was motivational and increased her passion for this topic. “As a senior in college, I was inspired by the APCRS to continue the focus on collaborative approaches addressing the issues facing coral reefs in the Asia-Pacific region,” she said.
Alder emphasized how research is a challenging field where collaboration is necessary. “I received advice about my research project, career aspirations, graduate school applications and more through conferences,” she said. “It was an impactful experience for me to network with marine biologists from around the world, get exposure to the realities of a career in marine research and share a poster presentation on the research project I am a part of,” she added.
Hull said she received a lot of advice from professors on conducting research. Meeting professionals from different organizations helped her improve her presenting skills. “It was an excellent opportunity to navigate what I want to do, how to achieve it and moving forward in my career,” she said.
Navigating the future
Alder said she is currently working on tracking coral reproduction on Oahu’s windward shore. She said she and other researchers are exploring applications of environmental DNA and finding connections between coral spawning and eDNA. Alder explained, “The eDNA is DNA naturally left behind by organisms in the environment. Like humans shed hair and skin cells, coral leaves DNA traces in the water column.”
Schroader said, “I am currently involved in a research project focused on techniques of coral outplanting in high-wave action environments.” Schroader shared they are integrating community-based conservation efforts from Laie into this project. “We hope to develop a time-effective technique that is specific to the needs of our coral ecosystems, which face continued degradation due to seasonal storms.”
Hull mentioned some interesting discussions during the APCRS about Environmental Protected Areas. “Those initiatives take enormous conservation strides and [that’s] something I would like to pursue,” she said.
Empowering local communities
As the Ocean Stewards Club president, previously known as the Marine Biology Club, Alder said, “Our goal is to make OSC a welcoming place for anyone who loves and seeks to protect the ocean.” She said they host a variety of activities including movie nights, game nights, career nights and beach clean-ups. The best way to get involved with what OSC stands for is to follow their Instagram @oceanstewardsclub, Alder said.