Career Advancement Programme in Coral Reef Restoration and Rehabilitation

About this Podcast

HOST: Welcome to our podcast, today we have Dr. Jane Smith, a marine biologist and instructor for the Career Advancement Programme in Coral Reef Restoration and Rehabilitation. Welcome, Jane! It's great to have you here. GUEST: Thank you! I'm excited to be part of this conversation. HOST: So, let's dive right in! Can you share a bit about your personal experiences that led you to teach this course? GUEST: Absolutely! I've spent over 15 years working on coral reef conservation projects worldwide. I saw firsthand the need for professionals with practical skills in reef monitoring, rehabilitation, and management. HOST: That's fascinating. What current industry trends are most relevant to this course? GUEST: There's growing interest in nature-based solutions for climate change mitigation, and coral reefs play a crucial role. Our course covers innovative techniques like reef gardening and disease prevention, making our graduates highly sought after. HOST: Speaking of challenges, what do students usually struggle with when learning these skills? GUEST: Hands-on experience can be hard to come by, especially when it comes to working with fragile coral ecosystems. That's why our programme emphasizes practical training through fieldwork and lab simulations. HOST: Looking forward, where do you see the future of coral reef restoration and rehabilitation heading? GUEST: I believe we'll see more interdisciplinary collaboration, combining fields like genetics, engineering, and social sciences to develop comprehensive solutions. We're also focusing on training our students to be part of this collaborative effort. HOST: Dr. Smith, thank you so much for sharing your insights and experiences. This has been an enlightening discussion! GUEST: My pleasure! Thanks for having me.