Dr Kate Quigley, ARC DECRA Fellow at James Cook University, is passionate about creating science that saves species. Her research focuses on protecting Australia’s coral reefs, which are increasingly under threat from climate change. Rising ocean temperatures push corals to their limits, causing bleaching and coral death.
Kate’s research explores how corals survive heat stress by working across multiple scales, from the microscopic algae that feed them to the ocean currents that transport coral larvae. Using genetic tools and computer models, she identifies reefs with the greatest potential to withstand and recover from marine heatwaves. Her work has pinpointed “bright spot” reefs with heat tolerance and adaptive capacity, as well as vulnerable reefs needing urgent protection.
She has also discovered ways to help baby corals survive better against heatwaves, offering hope for restoring damaged ecosystems. By combining cutting-edge science with practical solutions, Dr Quigley is helping secure the future of coral reefs in a warming world.