Coral Restoration and Biodiversity
On Monday, an outstanding group of Year 8 students, chosen for their enthusiasm, curiosity, and achievement in science, were treated to a special guest speaker: Matthew Doherty, PhD Researcher and Marine Biologist from Plymouth University. He joined via a Teams call to talk about coral restoration and biodiversity, sharing insights from his fascinating work around the globe.
Students also quizzed Matthew about his career and key questions related to the impact of climate change on marine ecosystems. Here are a few highlights:
Job: Marine Biologist
Salary: Varies, starting salary in the UK is about £20,000 and then is dependent on experience and successful funding applications
What qualifications do you need to become a marine biologist?
To follow a similar career path, students will typically need:
GCSEs in Biology, Chemistry, Maths, English, and possibly Geography
A-levels in Biology (essential), and subjects like Chemistry or Geography
A BSc degree in Marine Biology, Biology, Zoology, Oceanography, or Environmental Science
Many marine biologists also complete a Master’s or PhD to specialise or go into research
Additional skills and training may include:
Diving certifications, especially for scientific diving
Strong skills in data analysis, teamwork, and communication
A love for the ocean and a passion for protecting the environment
Fieldwork and Diving
Diving is essential in marine research. A basic scuba diving PADI course takes around 4 days, but to dive deeper than 30 metres or carry out scientific diving, more technical training is required.
At greater depths, divers must make decompression stops during their ascent to allow dissolved gases in their blood to be released safely. Without these stops, divers can develop decompression sickness—also known as “the bends.”
Best place to dive?
The Eastern Tropical Pacific is a swath of the Pacific Ocean extending from Mexico to Peru and is one of the most biodiverse and productive marine regions in the world.
Fun fact: You must be out of the water by 4:30pm to avoid encounters with saltwater crocodiles!
Scariest situation?
Was it sharks? Not quite. Matthew explained that most sharks tend to be more scared of divers and usually keep their distance. It's a different story with surfers though as sharks can confuse them for prey and may attract more attention!
His most unsettling moment came while decompressing during a dive on a seamount (an underwater mountain that covers the ocean floor but doesn’t reach the surface to form an island). At 9 metres deep, for a full hour, with only the vast blue around and no clear sense of direction, it felt like sensory deprivation. He described it as eerie and, although he knows they are scared of him, you still have to be careful and every shadow looked like it could be an oceanic whitetip shark - one of the most dangerous sharks to humans!
Do fish still live on dead coral reefs?
Yes! Although the microhabitat changes over time, and invertebrates like shrimps and worms decline, algae and microorganisms begin to colonise the coral surface. This attracts herbivores such as snails and sea urchins, keeping the ecosystem active.
A huge thank you to Matthew
This is the second year that Matthew has brought this fascinating and thought-provoking subject to life in the classroom, helping students gain a deeper understanding of the impact of global warming and how Science can take you all over the world. In the coming months, he’ll be working in Australia, Panama, and the Cayman Islands!
