PICRC appoints Lauren Piot as Coral Futures Academy Supervisor

Lauren Piot has been appointed by the Palau International Coral Reef Center (PICRC) as the Supervisor of the Coral Futures Academy (CFA), supporting coral restoration efforts in Palau, the Federated States of Micronesia, and the Marshall Islands. 

The CFA is part of the three-year, $1.5 million project Scaling up identification, protection, and local management of coral reefs resistant to future climate stress, led by The Nature Conservancy (TNC) Micronesia and Polynesia and supported by the G20 Coral Research & Development Accelerator Platform (CORDAP). The initiative equips Pacific Island communities with practical skills to identify heat-tolerant corals, test their resilience, establish nurseries, and integrate restoration into local reef management. 

As a partner in the CORDAP project, PICRC plays a key role in advancing restoration science and building regional capacity. For years, it has led coral reef research and restoration efforts in Palau. With the CORDAP project, PICRC is expanding this work by hosting trainings, refining coral heat-stress testing methods, and supporting the development of locally led Coral Restoration Teams. Since the launch of the initiative, teams trained through the program are already conducting restoration work in their home communities. 

“We are thrilled with PICRC’s appointment of Lauren as the Supervisor of the Coral Futures Academy,” stated Dr. Yimnang Golbuu, Conservation Director for TNC Micronesia and Polynesia and Principal Investigator for the CORDAP project. “With her addition, PICRC strengthens the connection between science and community stewardship, ensuring that restoration efforts are locally led and regionally impactful. We are grateful for PICRC’s partnership and their role in guiding coral restoration in Palau and across Micronesia.”

Lauren brings nearly two years of experience at PICRC, where she led the development of a climate-smart adaptive management framework for coral reef restoration for Palau. In her new role at PICRC as CFA Supervisor, she will coordinate restoration teams, overseeing coral stress testing, data collection and management, and outplanting activities across the three Pacific countries. Based in Palau, she will work closely with TNC Micronesia and Polynesia, Stanford University, and other partners to support restoration work across the region.  

“Coral reefs across Micronesia are already feeling the impacts of rising ocean temperatures,” said Roxanne Blesam, CEO of PICRC. “With Lauren’s appointment, we are ensuring that the work on identifying corals that can better withstand stress and building local leadership to restore and manage reefs for the long term continues. We are looking forward to working closely with TNC Micronesia and Polynesia, Stanford University, and local communities to continue this meaningful work.”

Photo credit: Kiara Worth/ IISD/Palau NAP