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MTS Member Webinar | Connected Reefs: How University of Miami and Aqualink Use Real-Time Data to Protect Coral Ecosystems
Tuesday, April 29, 2025, 3:00 PM - 3:45 PM EDT
Category: Virtual Event

MTS Member Webinar | Connected Reefs: How University of Miami and Aqualink Use Real-Time Data to Protect Coral Ecosystems

Sofar webinar flyer

Join Sofar Ocean for a webinar at the intersection of cutting-edge ocean tech and coral reef conservation. The session will feature Taylor Gill (Environmental Monitoring Coordinator, University of Miami’s Cooperative Institute for Marine and Atmospheric Studies (CIMAS) a NOAA affiliate), Caesar Hjerten (Community Manager, Aqualink), and Zack Johnson (Developer Relations Lead, Sofar Ocean). Attendees will learn:

  • How CIMAS and NOAA AOML deploy Sofar Spotter Platforms across the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary through the Mission: Iconic Reefs program. Spotter measures real-time changes in temperature, pH, and ocean chemistry, helping researchers improve coral reef monitoring and track the effects of extreme weather events.

  • How Aqualink built a global coral reef monitoring dashboard and collaborates with researchers to gather and visualize critical ocean data.

  • How Sofar’s modular and rapidly deployable Spotter Platform delivers real-time surface and subsurface observations to help close the data gap for researchers working to protect the world’s coral reefs. 

Date/Time:

Tues, Apr 29, 2025  | 12:00 PM PDT / 3:00 PM EDT

Click here to register.

Presenters:

Taylor Gill, Environmental Monitoring Coordinator, University of Miami’s Cooperative Institute for Marine and Atmospheric Studies (CIMAS) a NOAA affiliate

Taylor Gill began her journey with AOML’s Ocean Chemistry and Ecosystems Division as a Coral Program intern on National Coral Reef Monitoring Program (NCRMP) Environmental Monitoring and Coral ‘Omics research. She has since started a role of Mission: Iconic Reefs Environmental Monitoring Coordinator. In her current capacity, Taylor plays a vital role in assisting with both field and laboratory projects while overseeing the development of comprehensive environmental monitoring instrumentation to be deployed in the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary (FKNMS) and provide real-time ocean chemistry data.

Taylor holds a B.S. degree in Marine and Atmospheric Science from the University of Miami’s Rosenstiel School of Marine, Atmospheric, and Earth Science, obtained in 2022. Her previous research endeavors include reef restoration, genotypic tracking, and coral growth monitoring, complemented by her dedication to scientific outreach and community education.

Caesar Hjerten, Community Manager, Aqualink

Caesar Hjerten cultivates partnerships and fosters community engagement around ocean conservation and coral reef monitoring initiatives. A Swedish-born Business graduate from the University of Hawaii and former collegiate soccer player, he brings his passion for protecting the ocean into every aspect of his work at Aqualink.

Moderator: 

Zack Johnson, Developer Relations Lead, Sofar Ocean

Zack Johnson leads developer relations at Bristlemouth, an open communication standard for marine hardware. At Sofar Ocean Technologies, he heads field operations and works as a sales and support engineer. His career bridges open-source hardware, citizen science, and ocean technology.

Reserve your spot!