This week, Carlos Duarte was ranked #4 in the list of Top Ecology and Evolution scientists in the World, and the top marine scientist in that rank:

Not many Ph.D. students are mothers to four children while pursuing their dream to become a marine biologist working at sea.

As the only Arab women working on Phase 1 of the OceanX mission, KAUST Ph.D. marine science student Afrah Alothman has broken many a glass ceiling and continues to push the bounds of what is possible for Arab women to achieve.

The King Abdullah University for Science and Technology (KAUST) announced that it received a research donation from Amazon.sa to support a research project on coral reef conservation in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The project will provide new tools for a global environmental initiative called the Global Coral Reef R&D Accelerator Platform (cordap.org). Launched by G20 members during the Saudi Presidency in 2020, the global initiative is being led by the Saudi Ministry of Environment, Water, and Agriculture, with KAUST as the central hub.

Dr. Guoxin Cui received his PhD from the Red Sea Research Center, followed by a couple of years as a postdoctoral researcher. He is currently a Research Scientist in The Coral Symbiomics Lab, looking at the symbiotic relationship between coral and algae.

Inês Raimundo, a PhD Student in the Marine Microbiomes Lab at KAUST's Red Sea Research Center, has a deep fascination with marine microorganisms, and believes these tiny organisms could play a key role in saving coral reefs.

Dr. Lina Eyouni, an alumna doctoral student of KAUST's Red Sea Research Center, was the first Saudi woman to graduate with a MSc in Marine Physics from KAU, and the first Saudi woman to graduate with a PhD in oceanography from KAUST. She was recently appointed Physical Science Environmental Manager at the The Red Sea Development Company.

Runoff in coastal waters is linked to pollution and degradation of coral reefs and other marine ecosystems. Unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) have now been used to overcome the challenges of monitoring water flow between ecosystems and over large areas. Prof. Matthew McCabe, research scientist Kasper Johansen and Ph.D. student Aislinn Dunne developed a method using drones and harmless dyes to track and monitor the movement of water between coastal habitats.

Running from the beginning of February until the end of June, we are hopping aboard NYC'S OceanX and KAUST's Al Azizi vessels and journeying from one end of Saudi Arabia to another.

Culture environments of different cell types growing in culture vessels or Petri dishes vary significantly from each other and from conditions in the living body, potentially driving the “reproducibility crisis” in biomedical research, according to a team of KAUST bioscientists. This conclusion follows constant monitoring of three different cell types, including human pluripotent stem cells, over three days. This and further research could lead to improved standards and protocols for cell culture experiments in the laboratory.

Once considered the ugly duckling of environmental conservation, seagrass is emerging as a powerful tool for climate action. From drawing down carbon to filtering plastic pollution, marine scientist Carlos M. Duarte details the incredible things this oceanic hero does for our planet -- and shows ingenious ways he and his team are protecting and rebuilding marine life.

King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST) recently announced the inauguration of the world's first coral probiotics village in the Red Sea. The village, located around 20 km off the campus shores, is part of the University's Red Sea Research Center (RSRC) efforts and approach to coral preservation and restoration. The inaugural featured an underwater ribbon-cutting ceremony and was attended by representatives from KAUST leadership, RSRC researchers and students, as well as members from the community.

In order to understand and protect the vulnerable marine resources of the Red Sea, it is imperative to know which species need protecting. Coral biologist Prof. Francesca Benzoni, associate director of the Red Sea Research Center at King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), hosted a coral training workshop in October for marine science students and non-KAUST faculty and professionals to better identify coral species of the Red Sea.

EXPEDITION ALERT! A collaboration between BTWaves and TAJRC to visit Exuma Sounds, Bahamas, for some seagrass, sediment and shark science!

Red Sea phytoplankton blooms change seasonally and interannually in response to climatic events. A KAUST study has analyzed satellite data over two decades and its findings will underpin other investigations into how climate change could impact this marine ecosystem. Phytoplankton are water-living, microscopic organisms that use chlorophyll to convert light into energy. This process involves absorbing carbon dioxide and releasing oxygen, similar to plants.

We are thrilled to announce that Distinguished Professor Carlos Duarte is recognized as a Highly Cited Researcher 2021, - an annual status given to 0.1%, of the world's most influential researchers. However, this year the recognition in two different categories - a doubly Highly Cited Researcher! These are for the categories of: 'Environment and Ecology' and 'Plant and Animals Science'

The recently concluded COP26 UN Climate Change Conference in Glasgow, UK, brought global governmental signatories of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) together to negotiate the establishment and monitoring of accepted environmental standards to improve the future of the planet. The 26th Conference of the Parties to the UNFCCC (Oct. 31 – Nov. 12, 2021) was attended by senior world leaders, scientists, policymakers and activists from around the globe.

Marine animals in the Red Sea are some of the most understudied in the world, and KAUST alumna Dr. Royale Hardenstine (Ph.D. '20, MS '15) has dedicated her career path to changing that, starting with the biggest animal out there — the whale shark.

The Youth Green Summit is a series of workshops that brings together environmental advocates, scientists, and policy makers. Their aim: to instigate climate action using the Saudi Green Initiative targets (reducing emissions, greening Saudi, and protecting biomes).

Coral reef ecosystems are severely threatened by climate change. The urgent need to address the issue is driving a new era of innovation in reef science, shown by a global multidisciplinary exploration of different approaches to enhance coral resilience. An international team including KAUST professors Manuel Aranda and Raquel Peixoto, with adjunct professor Chris Voolstra, have proposed an adaptive framework to increase the resilience of corals in the face of climate change.

Coral reefs are rapidly degrading all over the world due to climate change and human activity. This phenomenon has dire consequences on the livelihoods of almost one billion people who directly depend on the ecosystem services delivered through healthy tropical reefs. Based on current projections, and without active intervention, coral reefs may become extinct by the year 2050.