Mariana Rocha de Souza is a coral reef resilience and nature-based solutions outreach specialist in a joint position with Hawaiʻi Sea Grant and the Hawaiʻi Institute of Marine Biology. In her role, Mariana is expanding her previous research efforts on coral reef resilience, focusing on how coral hosts and their endosymbionts respond to climate change and environmental stressors. In addition to her research, she leads outreach initiatives, translating scientific knowledge into accessible information to educate audiences about the ecosystem services coral reefs provide and the threats they face. Mariana is also spearheading community engagement for nature-based solutions, working closely with local groups to identify, prioritize, and implement tailored coastal adaptation strategies. She collaborates with communities to enhance understanding and use of nature-based solutions for coastal protection, including coral restoration efforts.

She earned her BS in biological sciences from the University of São Paulo, Brazil, her MS in oceanography from Université Aix-Marseille, France, and her PhD in marine biology from UH Mānoa, where her dissertation examined the role of coral-algal symbionts in providing resilience to heat stress. As a Sea Grant Knauss Fellow in 2022, she was placed with NOAA’s Global Ocean Monitoring and Observation Program. Since then she has been very involved in marine policy, engaging and leading events at United Nations Ocean meetings. As a postdoctoral researcher at the Hawaiʻi Institute of Marine Biology, she expanded her work on coral resilience, integrating empirical data with models to predict key factors influencing coral survival. She is also an elected officer of the International Coral Reef Society (ICRS), contributing to global coral reef conservation efforts.