Join us online on Tuesday, 13 May at 5 pm BST for a greenloop session that will share why coral conservation impacts us all, and how the health of coral reefs serve as an ecosystem indicator as ocean temperatures rise.
Corals, which are admired for their vivid colours by both nature lovers and divers, are listed as Threatened by the US Endangered Species Act and Critically Endangered by the IUCN Red List.
The Association of Zoos and Aquariums’ (AZA) signature conservation programme, SAFE: Saving Animals From Extinction, draws on the combined knowledge of aquariums and zoos to generate significant, long-lasting impact for animal conservation. In 2018, a group of committed organisations collaborated to form SAFE Coral.
In this session, our guest speakers Katey Leban, conservation coordinator for AZA, Mitch Carl, curator of aquatics at Omaha’s Henry Doorly Zoo and Aquarium, and Ross Cunning, Ph.D., research biologist at John G. Shedd Aquarium in Chicago, will share an active example of conservation and sustainability at work.
This project brings together institutions of all sizes, from the coasts to the Midwest, and combines diverse skill sets to save these extraordinary invertebrates from extinction.
Meet the Speakers
Katey Leban
Katey Leban is the primary contact for the AZA SAFE programmes and facilitator for the SAFE Granting Program and Conservation Grants Fund (CGF).
Her experience includes roles as a field technician for Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC), hatchery technician for aquaculture company Proaquatix LLC., and production manager for Marine Applied Physics Corporation’s Solar Oysters pilot project.
At Brevard Zoo, she was the primary coordinator for its citizen science-based oyster gardening project, and also specialised in nearshore coastal restoration utilising oysters and native vegetation.
Leban holds a Bachelor of Science in Marine Biology and a Master of Science in Conservation Technology from Florida Institute of Technology.
Mitch Carl
Curator of aquatics at Omaha’s Henry Doorly Zoo and Aquarium, Mitch Carl has been involved with corals for over three decades.
Carl has served on the AITAG steering committee for more than ten years and was involved originally with the Coral CAP. He joined SECORE in 2004, and has participated in and led workshops in numerous countries, sharing knowledge on coral sexual reproduction and restoration through sexual recruits.
He helped to establish the Florida Reef Tract Rescue Project and has been the champion for the Coral Aquarist training initiative, which aims to teach the next generation of coral aquarists. Carl is one of the original steering committee members of the AZA Coral SAFE programme and has recently become the group’s treasurer.
Ross Cunning
Ross Cunning, Ph.D., is a coral research biologist in Shedd’s Daniel P. Haerther Center for Conservation and Research. He researches coral reefs in the Bahamas to build understanding of how to sustain these ecosystems in the face of a changing climate.
Cunning is an expert in the relationship between corals and their symbiotic algae. The breakdown of this relationship is known as coral bleaching, and occurs when the oceans are too warm. In his fieldwork and molecular research, Cunning seeks to identify genetic and ecological factors that promote tolerance to rising temperatures in corals and their symbiotic algae. These findings will help enhance coral reef restoration techniques.
His previous experience includes positions as a postdoctoral research scientist at the University of Miami and National Science Foundation Postdoctoral Research Fellow at the Hawaii Institute of Marine Biology. Cunning holds a Ph.D. in marine biology and ecology from the University of Miami and a Bachelor of Science in biology and environmental science from Duke University.
Join us at greenloop 2025
greenloop, blooloop’s annual online conference for sustainability in visitor attractions, is taking place on 13 and 14 May 2025. Now in its fifth year, the event seeks to inform and inspire with top speakers, cutting-edge science, and actionable insights.
In today’s rapidly changing environmental and political landscape, staying informed and taking action have never been more crucial. Attendees will find out what the science tells us, what actions industry leaders are taking, and how they can make a real difference.
Tickets for greenloop 2025 are priced from just £10 per person, ensuring that the event is open to all those wanting to take positive steps towards making our industry more sustainable.
