Today we’d like to introduce you to Kelsey Johnson-Sapp.
Thanks for sharing your story with us Kelsey. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
I am enchanted with the unknown, almost to the point of obsession, which is why I think it befitting that a career in marine biology is my kismet. The ocean embodies extraordinary mysteries that stoke humanity’s fixation to discover its secrets, much like our solar system, although we have explored more of outer space than earth’s oceans. I grew up in Austin, Texas, miles from any glimpse of a coast, but sometimes my family would take summer trips down to the Gulf where my love for all-things-marine blossomed. As a bright-eyed five-year-old, the tide pools and jetties became my first research site where a wealth of life was bursting from every crevice. But over the years, the Texas coastline would endure drastic changes from urban development that transitioned my innocent exploration into a resolute sense of purpose: I felt powerless in the face of institutional destruction of our oceans and would dedicate my life to rebuilding what we have lost.
To address the daunting task at hand, I set about amassing my intellectual artillery. My first exposure was as an undergraduate from Stetson University interning at Stanford Hopkins Marine Station working with bluefin tuna under Dr. Adrian Gleiss. It was my introduction to the true nature of marine science, and the creativity, expertise, and endurance it requires to juggle hard science while simultaneously writing grants, spearheading outreach initiatives, learning animal husbandry, leading a team, maintaining a research facility, and trying to maintain a sliver of normalcy in your sleep schedule. I had been blissfully ignorant of the blood, sweat, and tears that were poured into every research endeavor, and little did I know they were soon to be my own!
A year later, I shifted my focus to shark research at the Bimini Biological Field Station in the Bahamas, where I tagged, hooked, and wrangled sharks for various projects. For my undergraduate research thesis, I studied the reproductive adaptations of invasive fish species in Florida with Dr. Melissa Gibbs and would eventually go on to work as a Dive master in the Florida Keys between my undergraduate and master’s degrees. I became deeply familiar with the local reefs in the Keys and found myself in constant awe of these underwater civilizations. Coral reefs are arguably the most biodiverse ecosystem on the planet and are one of the major pillars upon which the integrity of our oceans is built. Despite their invaluable role as biological building blocks, coral reefs will be the first ecosystem we lose in the history of humanity if modern society continues to perpetuate mechanisms of climate change. It was then that I was inspired to pursue rebuilding these foundations to incite ripples of awareness for an environment that is in rapid decline.
I decided to continue my education into my master’s at Duke University’s Nicholas School of the Environment to study marine policy and environmental management. During my program, I was awarded an internship with Dr. John Burns at the Hawaii Institute of Marine Biology to assess coral health and complexity using 3D modeling. This experience would be the genesis of furthering my research into my Ph.D. where I would join the ranks of coral scientists that are working tirelessly to defend our reef resources and influence social perspectives that will shape the future of our oceans.
We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
I am constantly reminded that the fulcrum of my livelihood and my passion, coral reefs, are rapidly disappearing with every coming summer. As researchers, we are expected to keep pace with the developing scientific literature, and it is often shrouded in pessimism and uncertainty. It can be difficult to keep a positive mindset in the current political and (literal) environmental climate of this modern era, but if we are to inspire any meaningful change in the present, we have to nurture our seeds of hope and keep advocating for a brighter future. I will not give up on reefs, and though it has been difficult at times convincing the public that these snotty rocks are worth saving, I believe that the story of coral reefs will captivate the world if we can find the proper channels to showcase their legacy.
Tell us more about your practice.
I am now a second-year Ph.D. student in the Coral Reef Futures Laboratory under Dr. Andrew Baker at the University of Miami’s Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science. Our lab focuses on coral reef interventions, where we are utilizing natural traits of corals to identify best practices in rebuilding degraded reefs. My project involves identifying and leveraging natural thermal-tolerance of coral colonies in the wild to identify mechanisms behind coral bleaching (a major threat to corals, triggered by ocean warming) and re-seed degraded assemblages with those resilient individuals. Corals of the same species strangely exhibit diverging responses to the same environmental conditions. For example, during a bleaching event, some corals of a species will bleach, while others will not. If we can harness the adaptive capacity of these select individuals, or better yet, understand the specific mechanisms behind what makes them so resilient to environmental pressure, perhaps we can promote these characteristics in other populations and reestablish healthy reefs that will stand the test of time under climate change.
However, it has been historically difficult to restore reefs in an urban setting, as heavy development often inhibits restoration progress. This makes Miami a unique landscape to initiate restoration projects because, oddly enough, urbanized areas like Miami would benefit most from the ecosystem services of coral reefs such as reducing wave action (up to 95%!) as climate change continues to exacerbate sea level rise. Thus, we are faced with the conundrum that, although Miami would be a city to benefit most from reef restoration, it may also be the most challenging case study. The members of my lab are doing incredible work under the expertise and guidance of Dr. Baker, and have already made great strides towards advancing our field.
So, what’s next? Any big plans?
I am currently in just my second year of a five-year trajectory, so I have a long and exciting road ahead in terms of my development as a scientist, environmental steward, and spokesperson for coral reef conservation. Once my studies have concluded at the Rosenstiel School, I plan to continue promoting the education of resource management and sustainable behavior, serving as the liaison between the general public, academia, and the marine environment. I will continue to safeguard coral reefs through research and activism to ensure that future generations will benefit from their irreplaceable roles as both biological cornerstones and an open door into a mysterious, wonderful world that is still full of discovery.
Contact Info:
- Address: Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science
4600 Rickenbacker Causeway, Miami, FL 33149 - Website: https://coralreeffutures.rsmas.miami.edu/
- Email: [email protected]
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/coralreeffutures/?igshid=3xlym7fmv1c0
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/cr2lab/
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