Reef Florida at Frost Science: Four Days of Coral, Community, and New Ideas

From November 18–21, we joined the Reef Florida convention at the Phillip and Patricia Frost Museum of Science. Our FIU crew rolled in strong—11 delegates total from labs across campus—and spent four packed days trading ideas, asking hard questions, and comparing notes with colleagues from around South Florida and beyond.

I attended with Alex Sanchez, an undergraduate research lab tech from our group. Together we presented our work on mycosporine-like amino acids (MAAs)—the small, UV-absorbing compounds corals produce—and how PAR:UVR ratios shape coral cell biology. In plain English: we looked at how the balance of visible light (the stuff that powers photosynthesis) and ultraviolet radiation (the stuff that can damage cells) pushes coral cells toward protection, stress, or recovery. We walked through what that balance looks like at the cellular level—from photoprotection and oxidative stress to how symbiosis holds up (or fails) when the light mix changes.

Highlights from the week

• Big FIU presence: Ten fellow delegates from a range of FIU labs shared p

  osters, talks, and methods—great to see the diversity of projects under one roof.

• Our session: Alex did a stellar job breaking down MAAs for a mixed audience, and we fielded thoughtful questions on measurement methods, experimental light spectra, and reproducibility across field and lab systems.

• Octocoral spotlight: Team member Milos Walckinzki presented his work on octocorals, sparking energetic discussion about their functional roles on reefs and how different stressors shape their responses.

• New connections: We had great conversations with folks from the Baker Lab (University of Miami), the Parkinson Lab, and a long list of coral conservation teams working on monitoring, restoration, and community education. A few ideas are already spinning into small collaborative tests for spring.

  

Why this matters

Reef Florida isn’t just about data—it’s about alignment. Getting scientists, students, and conservation partners in the same room helps us stress-test ideas against real world constraints. Our focus on MAA dynamics and PAR/UVR balance is one piece of a larger puzzle: understanding when corals can protect themselves, when they start to slip, and how management can time interventions to give reefs a better shot.

Gratitude and next steps

Huge thanks to the organizers at Frost Science and the Reef Florida team for the logistics and the space to connect. We’re following up with new contacts to scope small, useful pilots—the kind that yield a clear dataset, a method one-pager, or a tool others can use.

If you were at Reef Florida and want to compare notes—or if you’re curious about MAAs, PAR/UVR work, or student involvement—reach out at projectanchordown@gmail.com. We’re happy to share methods, swap data templates, or brainstorm a quick joint project.