Coral Team

Duke Restore’s Coral Team provides pro bono technical and capacity-building assistance to coral reef restoration projects globally. Our services include grant writing, GIS, data processing and analysis, curriculum development, market research, graphic design, and more. We are currently partnered with four organizations across North America, South America, and the Caribbean and are always open to new collaborations. These projects also assist Duke undergraduate and graduate students in their professional development.

The Coral Team additionally is piloting research on coral restoration effectiveness on the North Carolina coast. We are starting by documenting the coral community around Piver’s Island at the Duke Marine Lab in Beaufort, to better understand coral’s role in NC’s coastal ecosystem and the impact restoration research projects may have.

Our Team

Dr. Brian Silliman
Faculty Advisor
Elizabeth Kroger
1st Year Lead
Emma Beyer
2nd Year Lead
Marissa Alba Naclerio
2nd Year Lead

Our Partnerships

Current Projects

  • Process and analyze video footage of fish populations in restoration sites in the Galapagos, Ecuador
  • Create social media and educational content for reef restoration in the Galapagos
  • Conduct market research and create social media content for a bioenzymatic cement startup aimed at reef restoration projects
  • Conduct a baseline coral survey in Beaufort, North Carolina
  • Spring field course on coral survey and restoration techniques for Duke undergraduate students at the Duke Marine Lab in Beaufort, North Carolina
  • Maintain a temperate water coral tree nursery in Beaufort, NC for student education
  • Plan workshops and presentations with experts in the coral restoration field to facilitate knowledge sharing and career mentorship

Past Projects

Created scientific illustrations for merchandise for the Annual Acropora Festival in Cozumel, Mexico, hosted by Corales Vivos

(Art by Rebecca Cox)

News and Current Events

Team of Duke Students begins video analysis in collaboration with Reef Revival in the Galapagos (February 2025)

Duke Restore Students Attend Reef Futures (December 2024)

This December, two members of Duke Restore’s Coral Team, Nicolás Dávalos and Elizabeth Kroger, had the opportunity to attend the Reef Futures conference in Quintana Roo, México, with the support of Duke Restore. Reef Futures is an annual gathering dedicated to coral research and conservation, and this year brought together over 800 coral scientists and conservation practitioners. Nicolás and Elizabeth had the chance to connect with coral restoration practitioners, scientists, and government officials, to bring new knowledge and collaborations to Duke Restore, as well as learn about new and upcoming techniques to use in their careers.

Updates on Duke Restore’s Coral Tree in Beaufort, NC (February 2024)