Discovering Coral Bleaching: An Interactive Coloring Journey

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In the wake of the devastating mass bleaching events that swept across the northern hemisphere’s coral reefs during the scorching summer of 2023, the importance of coral reef education has never been more important. As students settle into their academic routines, the critical issue of coral bleaching has risen to the forefront of environmental concerns in these regions. In response to this need, we are excited to introduce the dedicated section on coral bleaching from our Reefs at Risk Activity and Coloring Book. While the entire book is a work in progress, we’ve recognized the urgency of educating students about coral bleaching and have chosen to release the book in sections to provide timely information and engage young minds in this pressing matter…

Coral Bleaching

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Coral reef bleaching has been in the headline news this past summer, as it was the hottest three-month period on record. As ocean temperatures soared to 32°C (90°F) around the Florida Keys and the Caribbean, coral reefs were way past their temperature threshold and started to bleach. But what happens when a coral bleaches?

Coral bleaching is a phenomenon that occurs when coral polyps expel the symbiotic (mutually beneficial) algae called zooxanthellae from their tissues, causing the corals to lose their color and turn white or pale. These algae provide the corals with essential nutrients through photosynthesis and contribute to their vibrant colors. When coral polyps expel the zooxanthellae, it not only leads to the loss of color but also affects the overall health and survival of the coral reefs…

Exciting New Programs and Tools for Educators

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As teachers gear up for the start of the academic year, the Khaled bin Sultan Living Oceans Foundation has released some exciting educational resources for teachers to use in their classrooms. These resources were created to further the Foundation’s goals of improving ocean literacy around the world. We hope teachers (and life-long-learners of all ages) find our educational resources useful in helping them learn about coral reefs, mangrove forests, and other tropical marine ecosystems…

Welcome Aboard Our Virtual Reef Expedition!

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Join us for an unforgettable underwater journey that combines education and adventure as we explore one of the world’s most stunning natural wonders – coral reefs. Experience the debut of our educational virtual reality application, Virtual Reef Expedition, for an immersive adventure that you won’t forget.

The COVID-19 pandemic forced us to cancel our in-person education programs, just like many other field trips during that time. However, we didn’t let that setback discourage us. We joined forces with the University of Miami to secure funding and develop a virtual reality field trip that could enrich both remote and in-person learning experiences. Utilizing state-of-the-art virtual reality (VR) technology, we were able to bring this project to life thanks to the generous support from the University of Miami’s Extended Reality (XR) Initiative…

Migrating Mangrove Detectives 

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Do you live near a mangrove forest? If so, we invite you to become a mangrove detective. Our citizen science program, Mangrove Detectives, allows students to develop STEAM skills while contributing to scientific research. We are thrilled to announce that we recently migrated all Mangrove Detectives’ educational resources to our website. 

The program came about in 2014 when Dr. Ryann Rossi was studying a mangrove die-off on Abaco Island, Bahamas. She discovered that a fungal pathogen was infecting the local red mangroves, potentially transmitted by insects. To expand her research to other areas, she partnered with the Khaled bin Sultan Living Oceans Foundation (KSLOF) to implement the program in the Mangrove Education and Restoration Programs in the Bahamas and Jamaica. Thanks to a grant from the National Geographic Society, Dr. Ryann Rossi and KSLOF expanded this program’s reach further, developing a curriculum that includes real-world scientific investigations, video tutorials, photo galleries, and teacher lesson plans…