PICRC Welcomes Jue Lalas as Coral Futures Supervisor

The Palau International Coral Reef Center (PICRC) is pleased to welcome Jue Alef Avanzado Lalas as the new Coral Futures Supervisor for the Coral Futures Academy. The Coral Futures Academy is a regional initiative carried out in collaboration between PICRC, The Nature Conservancy (TNC), Stanford University, the Marshall Islands Conservation Society (MICS), and the Conservation Society of Pohnpei (CSP). The project aims to scale up the identification, protection, and local management of climate-resilient coral reefs across Micronesia and develop the first Coral Futures Academy and Coral Restoration Teams structure in the Marshall Islands, Federated States of Micronesia and Palau.
Originally from the Philippines, Jue brings a strong background in marine science, with expertise in coral reef ecology and experience in related fields such as fisheries, marine protected areas, resource management, and biodiversity. From 2015 to 2021, he served as a researcher at the Marine Science Institute of the University of the Philippines. He later became a lecturer at Xavier University–Ateneo de Cagayan, before pursuing his PhD in Marine and Environmental Sciences at the University of the Ryukyus in Okinawa, Japan. While completing his doctoral studies, Jue also worked as a research assistant in the university’s Molecular Invertebrate Systematics and Ecology Lab. During his previous work assignments, Jue has gained extensive exposure working with diverse groups, including the scientific community, local communities across various regions, government agencies, and nonprofit organizations, to advance coral reef management through more holistic approaches.
Since joining PICRC in February 2025, Jue has played a key role in coordinating the Coral Futures Academy. He oversees efforts across Micronesia, collaborating with local team leaders from the different jurisdictions and scientists from Stanford University to identify heat-tolerant coral species, coordinate fieldwork, and ensure strong collaboration across project sites, efforts that are critical in the face of rising sea temperatures.
In his role as Coral Futures Supervisor, he is also deeply committed to working collaboratively with communities and integrating traditional knowledge and environmental stewardship into the identification and management of climate-resilient reefs. His approach aligns with the goals of the Coral Futures Academy, which seeks to combine scientific research with local expertise to strengthen coral restoration and reef resilience across Micronesia.
“Since starting this role, I’ve gained a deep respect for the rich cultural, spiritual, and daily bonds that Micronesian communities share with coral reefs. Recognizing and learning from this connection is essential to effective coral restoration. Through the Coral Futures Academy, we aim to combine scientific research with traditional knowledge to enhance reef resilience throughout Micronesia,” Jue shared.

As a coral reef scientist, Jue is also deeply interested in understudied benthic coral reef organisms such as octocorals, sponges, and zoantharians, which play important but often overlooked roles in reef ecosystems. Thus, he also plans to explore the diversity and ecological roles of these groups in Palauan reefs, and hopefully in other parts of Micronesia.

Jue has already made a significant impact at PICRC, and we look forward to is continued contributions to the Coral Futures Academy and to building lasting connections across the region.