Coral Reefs and More

I would use the prize to enhance my organization’s impact on people's perception of marine life. I already received 1K to implement infographics in my school, but I want to go beyond that. I want every school to incorporate marine life into their curriculum, and the funding and prestige of Elevate would enable me to do this. I will create subject-specific material that teachers can effectively integrate into the classroom and encourage students to take action through events like webinars and lab trips. I want to support both aspiring researchers, like myself, and experienced researchers to create a network of citizen scientists committed to solving problems facing the ocean. I will use this prize to form partnerships with research labs around the world, as well as other organizations to expand the impact of my work. With the funding, I will create a digital app that will provide people all over the world with a platform that will magnify their ability help monitor the ocean and care for it. The app would allow for the sharing of data, spreading of ideas, and the cultivation of a community that is united in the fight to save the coral reefs and our ocean.

My story and my journey to save our coral reefs is published in Oceanographic Magazine—the link. I know, however, that I alone cannot save our reefs and that this issue goes beyond just myself and my research. I have to be the momentum to-bring back the health of the ocean, starting with coral reefs. Everybody needs to be made aware of the threats facing marine life and everybody needs to take action. That is why I started Coral Reefs and More. Through my organization, I will create events that unite people into a core of citizen activists and enable them to use their unique skills to protect the unique parts of the ocean they are passionate about. Coral Reefs and More will provide people with real ways to directly take action such as gathering data for scientists, monitoring restored reefs, participating in reef clean-ups and even conducting their own research. It will become a hub for people all over the world to unite and fight for our ocean, even after we have eliminated threats like coral bleaching and ocean acidification. Coral Reefs and More will become the link that we need between ocean scientists and citizen who care.

My organization is devoted to preventing the degradation of the ocean, with a specific emphasis on preserving coral reefs. In the past three decades we have lost over 50% of our coral reefs and the reefs that remain are in poor condition. The loss of coral reefs is devastating on both a global and local level. Although coral reefs only make up 2% of the ocean floor, they account for 25% of all marine life, which means that reef death results in the loss of marine life. Beyond the environment itself, billions of people depend on reef organisms for food and nutrients, and many marginalized coastal communities are almost completely dependent on reefs for resources. Rising ocean temperatures and pollution caused by humans has been the driving force behind reef degradation. To address this issue, my organization advocates awareness of coral degradation and enables people to help protect our ocean. It informs people on changes that they can make in their community and how they can work to protect their nearby marine ecosystems. It also raises money to fund reef related research and preservation efforts through various fundraising events, bringing together a community of citizen scientists.

My organization takes a new approach towards activism that places a unique emphasis on young adults that are passionate about the ocean and coral reefs. It is imperative that young adults are given a platform to express their ideas and share their solutions. At the very least, they need to be able to participate in the discussion and feel that their presence is valued. There are countless young innovators who have envisioned and formulated potential solutions to the myriad of problems facing our ocean, yet they are missing the tools that need to even attempt to test their solutions. Sure they may be encouraged to keep pursuing their goals, but they are still too often dismissed as too young. Thus, rather than focusing on funding established research groups and labs, we focus on funding young scientists that don't necessarily have the means to make their solution a reality. We want to encourage the youth to take control of the future and inspire in them a genuine belief that can save the ocean. The reality is that we cannot afford to wait for the youth's ideas to be implemented, because if we do it will simply be too late. 

One of the first steps towards achieving our planned impact is establishing a presence in schools and local communities in the East Coast and the West Coast. These regions are home to numerous marine ecosystems and the most effective way to extend our influence in these areas is through the local communities. When people are informed on how an issue is personally connected to them, they are much more willing to take action. Young students in particular are more motivated to advocate for change when it has an impact on their future. Another step we are taking is hosting a variety of fundraising events that appeal to varying audiences. The funds we raise go to various research initiatives and communities that are in need such that we can establish long lasting stability in marine ecosystems. Along with numerous fundraising events, we also campaign to raise awareness to the threats facing our ocean. Together, these steps can effectively strengthen ocean protection efforts as the more people begin to learn, the more they will begin to care. The moment we truly realize that all of humanity, depends on the ocean for survival, we will make more meaningful, long lasting changes.