In this episode, Gavin Miller, a marine biologist from Global Reef in Koh Tao, Thailand, shares his inspiring journey into marine conservation, detailing how his leadership in scientific field expeditions shaped his career. With a background in psychology and a Master’s degree in Marine Environmental Management from the University of Exeter, Gavin reveals how he blended his understanding of human behavior with marine science to recognize that conservation is as much about human influence as it is about biological ecosystems. He discusses his entry into the field through hands-on diving excursions and research projects, driven by a passion to protect coral reefs and marine life. At Global Reef, Gavin and his team lead educational diving programs and innovative conservation initiatives, such as coral restoration and research on reef-associated species, aimed at preserving Koh Tao’s fragile ecosystems. His mission to increase ocean literacy shines through as he explores the use of cutting-edge technologies, like those discussed in prior episodes, to engage global audiences and foster sustainable practices for ocean health.

Dive into artificial reefs with Gavin Miller! Uncover cutting-edge research:

Explore the study

Discover Global Reef’s projects & internships:

Visit Global Reef

Check out Shae’s research & Coral Currents guests:

Coral Currents Podcast Website

Got questions? Collaborate:

Email us

Dive into the future of coral reefs with our latest episode, hosted by Kaylee Shae, featuring the rockstar of the coral world, Dr. Emma Camp! As co-founder of the ⁠Coral Nurture Program⁠ on the Great Barrier Reef and leader of the ⁠Future Reefs Team⁠, Dr. Camp shares insights on coral resilience, climate impacts, and her team's research to give our future coral reefs a better chance at survival.

In this episode, we explore:

• Introducing Dr. Camp

• The Basics: Why are corals important?

• Coral Resilience Research:

  Studying how corals adapt in labs and on the Great Barrier Reef by moving them to new environments, like mangroves, to boost their survival against climate change.

• Climate Change Predictions: We briefly discuss the subject of climate change stats, including the “climate alarmism” issue.

• Reefs & Human Rights: Coral protection isn’t just science—it’s a fight for communities hit hardest by climate change, led by women, youth, and Indigenous groups.

• Super Corals: What are they? Hint: Not Frankenstein creations, but naturally resilient corals thriving in extreme environments like thermal vents and the Red Sea. Dr. Camp breaks down how these tough corals could save reefs from climate change!

Direct Links:

⁠Emmafcamp.com⁠

⁠The Coral Nurture Program⁠

⁠The Future Reefs Team⁠

⁠Coral Currents Podcast Website ⁠

⁠Coral Currents Podcast BlueSky⁠

Coral Currents Podcast Email : ⁠[email protected]⁠ (Ask us anything!)

Dr. Orion McCarthy's Research Deep Dive: Coral Resilience & 3D Map Observations (Part 2) In Part 2, Dr. Orion McCarthy speaks on how corals endure, recover, and face challenges from natural and human-driven changes. Through his PhD research, we explore what he’s observed about reef resilience, the power of long-term data, and how new tech like photogrammetry is shaping conservation. Discover why building on data matters and how to follow his work!

Email [email protected] for a recap of past guests and a peek into future episode topics!

Leave a comment or question to be spotlighted in the next episode!

Dr. Orion McCarthy's Latest Blog with SeaTrees

Dr. Orion McCarthy joins us to explore photogrammetry, a revolutionary technique creating 3D models to monitor and protect coral reefs, unveiling its role in modern conservation. From his early passion sparked by Australia’s vibrant oceans to its power in tracking reef health, we dive into how this tech is reshaping how we observe coral health over time. Today we look at Orions journey in long term monitoring, post-storm stories, and more. Tune in for an insider’s look at why photogrammetry is the future of resilient reefs!

Email [email protected] to join our mailing distribution list for a once weekly update of future guests! You can ask questions to the guests ahead of time to be featured on the next podcast (With a social media shoutout if desired)!

SeaTrees:

https://seatrees.org/blogs/in-the-news/unlocking-the-future-of-coral-restoration-with-photogrammetry?srsltid=AfmBOoolNA_MWTLq0mw_M6U53FW7aukQzMEgcf1heisutsh2TJFIHzzO

The 100 Island Challenge:

https://100islandchallenge.org/

Coral Currents Website:

https://kayleeshae97.wixsite.com/coralcurrentspodcast

Reef restoration, career breakthroughs, and the power of underwater imagery! We chat with PADI scuba instructor and photographer Karley Feather about her journey into coral conservation, her role as social media manager and photographer for Reef Futures 2024, and the connections shaping her future. From the energy of the symposium to the cutting-edge projects shared, Karley gives us an inside look at this global gathering of reef restoration experts. Plus, we dive into her favorite moments, personal inspirations, and what’s next for her in the world of marine conservation!

Karley’s photography website:

https://karleyfeather.wixsite.com/featherphotograpy

Reef Futures:

https://www.reeffutures.com/

Coral Restoration Foundation (CRF):

https://coralrestoration.org/

Rose Huizenga’s Inspirational Keynote at Reef Futures: The Coral Catch Story

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lRzVy4P-DSk

See sources mentioned in this episode at the bottom of this description.

Follow this link to Coral Currents Podcast's website! See future special guests and submit questions for them or me, Shae (for the possibility of having suggestions/questions aired on the next cast)! https://kayleeshae97.wixsite.com/coralcurrentspodcast

Meet our co-host, Jackson Hoeke - A fellow coral fanatic and a marine and aquatic scientist. He holds a Master’s in marine science with a background in marine invertebrates and invasive species. Our history as young scientists goes way back, to the Oregon Institute of Marine Biology at Dr. Young's deep sea lab. Jackson is also a phenomenal marine illustrator - and guess what ?! - He is our fantastic cover art creator!

Dive into the basics of coral reefs! We discuss the broad topics of taxonomy and reef formation. In the following podcast, we get microscopic and touch on their symbiotic relationship with Zooxanthellae algae!

These first two episodes are a great way to get accustomed to the language we will frequently use to dissect interesting coral reef-related research papers down the line.

Join our email list by sending a quick email to coralcurrentspodcast.com! Once a week, emails remind you of our future guest list and recap/highlight our episode content!

Sources:

Corals are thousands of individuals, called polyps: Barnes, R.D. 1987. Invertebrate Zoology; Fifth Edition. Fort Worth, TX: Harcourt Brace Jovanovich College Publishers. pp. 92-96, 127-134, 149-162.

Carbon Dating:Dating corals, knowing the Ocean. Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution. (2019, February 26). https://www.whoi.edu/know-your-ocean/ocean-topics/ocean-life/coral/dating-corals-knowing-the-ocean/

Coral Mucus Defense Mechanisms: Anithajothi, R., Duraikannu, K., Umagowsalya, G., & Ramakritinan, C. M. (2014, August 18). The presence of biomarker enzymes of selected Scleractinian corals of Palk Bay, Southeast Coast of India. BioMed research international. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC4151617/#:~:text=The%20recognition%20of%20the%20coral,situated%20at%20southeast%20of%20India. 

 "Corals first appeared around 535 million years ago": Turgeon, D.D. and R.G. Asch. In Press. The State of Coral Reef Ecosystems of the United States and Pacific Freely Associated States. Washington D.C.; NOAA.

Welcome to Coral Currents! Weekly podcasts brought to you by a young woman in STEM. I started this series because I wanted to learn more about corals myself. I realized I was stuck reading only the research papers that felt most relatable to me, without connecting with the broader community or diving into the politics and bigger picture around reefs. So, with this podcast, I hope to connect with people in the field and maybe open up new opportunities I wouldn't have found online. Join me!

Check out my website and submit content suggestions, ask questions, and check out the future guest lineup:

https://kayleeshae97.wixsite.com/coralcurrentspodcast