Distinguished Professor Terry Hughes is the Director of the Australian Research Council’s Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, headquartered at James Cook University in Townsville.  His research interests encompass coral reef ecology, macroecology and evolution, and marine social-ecological systems. A recurrent theme in his studies is the application of new scientific knowledge towards improving management of marine environments. He was elected a Fellow of the Australian Academy of Sciences in 2001.  He has been awarded many prizes, including the prestigious Darwin Medal of the International Society for Coral Reef Studies.  In 2014, he was awarded an Einstein Professorship by the Chinese Academy of Sciences.