Juliet is a Research Scientist at Kenya Marine and Fisheries Research Institute (KMFRI). Juliet researches marine ecosystems that advises and helps formulate management interventions and policies for the conservation and sustainable utilization of marine resources in Kenya including Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) with a  focus on coral reef ecosystems by conducting regular monitoring of the ecosystem health and resilience, biodiversity assessments, habitat mapping, and providing expertise on management interventions like coral reef restoration activities. She provides regular training and capacity building to coastal communities on the sustainable utilization of marine resources.

Dr. Idrees Babu is a talented Indian coral reef researcher and conservationist working in the beautiful, but vastly understudied Lakshadweep Archipelago, known as “India’s Maldives.” In a country as large as India, it may come as a surprise that there are not many hundreds impassioned coral reef scientists, and while this is rapidly changing, Idrees' ability to generate awareness and interest of the reefs of his homeland, even while not always having the same resources as someone in say, for instance, the United States.

Dr. Alma-Paola Rodriguez-Troncoso is a talented Mexican coral reef scientist who has been working on the climate change frontlines now for several decades. As a researcher at the University of Guadalajara, she carries out intensive undergraduate and graduate student training on all aspects of coral reef biology and ecology (with a focus on high-quality research), yet, in her downtime, dedicates a significant amount of time to providing the science needed to undertake important coral reef conservation and restoration activities in the Mexican Pacific.  She is a passionate coral reef scientist working at the interface of science and conservation/ restoration.

Dr. Deepeeka Kaullysing of the University of Mauritius is an early-career researcher working on important, oftentimes un/under-appreciated topics pertaining to coral reef resilience (namely coralivores, i.e. the animals that eat corals), Deepeeka has been very scientifically productive, even whilst working in Mauritius, a small island nation that does not have access to the same resources as the average western nation like the US or UK. Although the coral reef research field is anomalous in being fairly gender balanced on a global scale, this does not necessarily extend to Africa and the Indian Ocean, where it is still a male-dominated discipline. Deepeeka’s ability to thrive in this male-dominated environment is commendable.

Ms. Bibiana Nassongole, a “rising star” coral scientist from Mozambique. Being an area with high biodiversity and surely beautiful marine habitats, coral reefs, including deep-water ones that are a research focus of Bibiana, are unfortunately vastly understudied. Bibiana and only very few others in the area have been making in-roads into raising awareness about these important ecosystems, and we hope her important work can gain greater exposure.

Dr. Gildas Todinanahary of the University of Toliara's Fishery and Marine Science Institute (Republic of Madagascar) is amongst the few working on coral reefs in Madagascar, an ecologically rich, beautiful, yet understudied country with coral reefs about which we know relatively little. Through his keen scientific prowess, as well as successful networking both domestically and internationally, he works diligently to ensure that Madagascar is not forgotten about on the coral reef stage,and has had immense success even given oftentimes very limited resources.