& # 039; Super coral & # 039; Scientist dies in Hawaii at age 56
& # 039; Super coral & # 039; Scientist dies in Hawaii at age 56
Pioneering coral reef scientist Ruth Gates, who devoted much of her career to saving the fragile and deteriorating underwater reef ecosystems of the world, died. She was 56 years old.
Gates died in Honolulu on Thursday, the University of Hawaii said on Tuesday. The researcher, also president of the International Society of Reef Studies, was diagnosed with brain cancer in May and has since been on medical leave.
Gates became known worldwide for his idea of accelerating the evolution of corals and creating more resistant reefs.
The Associated Press wrote for the first time about its project to raise "super coral" in 2015. Its goal was to develop coral that could withstand the devastating effects of climate change. His work was presented in 2017. Netflix Documentary "Chasing the coral".
The warmer temperatures of the oceans can cause corals to go through a process known as bleaching, where animals weakening and getting sick Repeated bleaching events can lead to coral death and the loss of entire reef ecosystems.
Gates' colleague and partner in the assisted evolution project, Professor Madeleine van Oppen of the Australian Institute of Marine Sciences, said Gates was "a great inspiration" to many.
"He was smart, professional and had a wonderful sense of humor," Van Oppen told The Associated Press in an email. "She was a great reef ambassador and a role model for women in the science of coral reefs."
Van Oppen said it's a shame he can not see the long-term impacts of his research. "But I will work very hard to try to make it a success in his honor," he said.
Gates was known for her innovative science, but was also admired for her welcoming, energetic and cheerful personality.
"Ruth was not only a brilliant star in coral research, but an untamable spirit in all aspects of life," said Judy Lemus, interim director of the Hawaii Institute of Marine Biology and a friend of Gates. "His enthusiasm was contagious, and he loved what he did, and his loss will be deeply felt in our own community and in the entire research community."
Mark Eakin, coordinator of the Coral Reef Watch program of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, said Gates' death is a loss for the entire scientific community.
"Ruth was really a force of nature, I mean she was just an amazingly productive scientist, one of the most brilliant and inquisitive minds we had in the whole field of coral reef science, her energy was unlimited," he said. Eakin on a phone. interview.
Gates faced a "complete set of criticisms" about his plan to breed stronger corals, but "instead of rejecting those criticisms, he would accept them," Eakin said. "She is the kind of great leader who has trained many and left a legacy of students who will be able to continue and continue with this work."
Mariana Rocha de Souza, a PhD student in Gates' lab, said in an email to the AP that her mentor was an advocate for women in science.
"We are a very balanced laboratory in terms of gender and encouraged us as doctoral students to do the same when we selected the professors of our committee, motivated us to the women of science by telling us about their experience and encouraging us to fight," said Rocha de Souza .
Gates' research gained the support of the philanthropist and Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen, which allows him to expand, develop and test his theories in a laboratory on the Coco Island of Oahu.
"Ruth Gates realized before most others that for corals to survive climate change, their adaptation to warming waters will have to be assisted," said Lauren Kickham, director of product management at Paul G. Allen. Philanthropies. "She believed in her capacity for recovery and, ultimately, offered hope for the future." Allen, 65, died on October 15 due to complications of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma.
Gates was born in Akrotiri, Cyprus, in 1962 and is survived by his wife, Robin Burton-Gates, and his brother, Tim Gates.
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Follow Hawaii Correspondent on AP: https://twitter.com/CalebAP
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This story has been corrected to show that the release date of the documentary "Chasing Coral" was 2017, not 2018.
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