My Fulbright research aims to unlock the opportunity for large scale reef restoration; used in combination, macroalgal removal and citizen science hold the potential to deliver powerful low-tech, high-impact reef restoration outcomes.
Tara Kerr, a graduate of The College of William & Mary in Marine Conservation and Biology, is researching macro-algae removal as a coral rehabilitation strategy.
As a Fulbright scholar, her work will examine impacts from microbial to ecosystem levels, assessing coral settlement, biodiversity, and reef health. By collaborating with researchers and Traditional Owners, she will develop a standardized restoration framework that integrates traditional ecological knowledge and can be applied globally. This research will advance reef conservation efforts, providing scalable solutions for understanding and restoring degraded coral ecosystems and supporting long-term resilience in the face of changes in the environment.