Meet the women advancing NOAA’s marine heatwave research

This month, I participated of the NOAA’s campaign for women’s’ history moth

Here is my section!

“In her role as an assistant scientist at the Cooperative Institute for Marine and Atmospheric Studies (CIMAS) at NOAA’s Atlantic Oceanographic & Meteorological Laboratory in Miami, Florida, Ana Palacio-Castro is working to fill critical gaps in our understanding of the interplay between different climate stressors and South Florida’s ecosystems. These climate stressors, like ocean warming and acidification, marine heat waves, hypoxia, and harmful algal blooms, are likely to evolve under future climate change scenarios. Ana hopes that through her work, “we can develop more effective conservation and management strategies that enhance climate resilience.”

Read about Ana’s hopes for the future of marine heatwave research by clicking here. Ana is committed to understanding the impacts of climate change on coral reef systems, which provide a range of ecosystem services from protecting coastlines from storms and erosion, to recreation opportunities, to sources of food and new medicines. Recent coral bleaching events across multiple regions, like the Caribbean and the eastern tropical Pacific, “have underscored the urgent need for action” Ana says. She hopes we can harness the momentum of these devastating bleaching events to drive meaningful change and inspire conservation efforts that are “underpinned by science-driven decision making and inclusive, gender-responsive policies.”

Looking ahead, Ana is hopeful that we continue our commitment to climate action and conservation, and she identifies collaborative approaches as a key element in supporting that vision. “By fostering dialogue and collaboration,” Ana says, “we can accelerate and upscale the implementation of effective solutions.” Ana also believes that women play a critical role in working towards such solutions, because women “are not only disproportionately affected by climate change but also [are] often at the forefront of environmental advocacy.”