Once a year, Australia’s most famous reef turns into a snow globe as millions of coral polyps reproduce to send the next generation afloat. This incredible display disguises a harsh truth: the Great Barrier Reef is under attack. More than half of the coral here has died, with climate change bleaching many parts of this vast landscape. But don’t give up hope! There is still plenty to see and plenty to save. With marine biologist Dr. Erika Woolsey, meet some of the most bizarre, colorful species that live in these underwater jungles.
Dr. Erika Woolsey is a marine biologist, divemaster, and virtual reality filmmaker. Her research and career have taken her to reefs all over the world. Woolsey carried out her Ph.D. research in Australia, where she studied the Great Barrier Reef. She is the chief scientist and CEO of The Hydrous, a non-profit organization on a mission to inspire ocean empathy and marine stewardship. She uses 360-degree photography to create immersive virtual reality videos to help people understand the ocean and reefs from anywhere in the world. She is currently a Visiting Scholar at Stanford’s Virtual Human Interaction Lab.
Dive down to the Great Barrier Reef with marine biologist Dr. Erika Woolsey.