The Mother of Colombian Corals

At age 70, Colombian marine biologist Elvira Alvarado— known as “the mother of Colombian corals”—continues diving, researching, and mentoring new scientists in her lifelong mission to rescue Colombia’s endangered reefs. In her work on the island of San Andrés, she and a dedicated team use a form of coral IVF: they collect coral eggs and sperm during the annual spawning event, fertilize them in lab tubs, let the young corals grow in nurseries for months, and then transplant them back to reef sites. Since climate change, disease, pollution, and warming oceans have already wiped out more than half the Caribbean’s coral since the 1970s, Alvarado is focused on regenerating coral faster than they die—and recruiting varieties more resilient to heat stress. Aside from her fieldwork, she has trained dozens of young marine biologists, inspired more women to pursue the field, and built a legacy she hopes will continue long after she stops diving.

Image via NPR

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