Coral Bleaching, Resilience and Science Success Stories from the Desert
Challenging the assumption that you need to live near a tropical reef to study corals are two scientists working in desert environments: Dr. Liza M. Roger, Assistant Professor at Arizona State University’s School of Molecular Sciences and School of Ocean Futures, and Dr. Raquel Peixoto, Professor in Marine Science at King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST). We invited them on our latest Art X Science Conversations webinar to share their research and the questions and curiosities that draw them to corals.
Deserts are often imagined as barren landscapes, but both Arizona and western Saudi Arabia host surprisingly rich ecosystems: cacti that shelter birds, migratory corridors that come alive after rain and mountain regions where winter snowfall is common. These environments already model survival under heat, scarcity and extremes, making them fitting analogies for coral research as well.
“There's a misconception that you need to live by the ocean to do marine science, but many of the leading marine programs exist far from coastlines,” said Roger, commenting on her landlocked location as a geochemist that studies coral.
Featured Speakers
Meet the women pioneering coral research and outreach in desert locations from two different corners of the world.
Assistant Professor
Dr. Liza Roger
A coral geochemist and assistant professor at Arizona State University, Liza blends molecular science, geochemistry and in-vitro coral research to unravel how symbiotic sea creatures cope with climate stress and to dream up new ways to help reefs thrive.
Professor
Dr. Raquel Peixoto
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A trailblazing coral microbiome scientist and marine science professor at KAUST, Raquel pioneers “coral probiotics” to help reefs resist bleaching and blends bold research with real-world solutions to protect ocean ecosystems under climate change.
“I want my kids to grow up in a world with coral reefs. If I can contribute one brick to that wall, I will keep doing it.”
- Raquel Peixoto
