Dr. Carlos Duarte is a world-renowned marine ecologist whose pioneering work has fundamentally reshaped our understanding of ocean ecosystems and their response to anthropogenic pressures. He currently serves as the Ibn Sina Distinguished Professor of Marine Science and Tarek Ahmed Juffali Research Chair in Red Sea Ecology at the King Abdullah University of Science and Technology in Saudi Arabia. Previously, he directed the Oceans Institute at The University of Western Australia and held academic positions across Europe in Spain, Norway, and Denmark, establishing his international leadership in marine science. Dr. Duarte earned his bachelor's degree in environmental biology from the Autonomous University of Madrid in 1982 and completed his Ph.D. in limnology at McGill University in 1987 under the supervision of Jacob Kalff. His early career trajectory established him as a rising star in aquatic ecology before he transitioned to focus on marine systems on a global scale.
His groundbreaking research has established the foundational knowledge about marine carbon sequestration, leading to the development of the influential Blue Carbon concept in collaboration with UN agencies, which recognizes coastal ecosystems like mangroves and seagrasses as globally significant carbon sinks. Dr. Duarte led the ambitious Malaspina 2010 Circumnavigation Expedition, involving over 500 scientists who sailed the world's oceans to assess the impacts of global change on deep-sea ecosystems, resulting in more than 200 publications that transformed our understanding of ocean biodiversity. He has developed evidence-based strategies for rebuilding marine abundance by 2050, providing a scientifically rigorous roadmap for ocean restoration that has gained international recognition and policy traction. With more than 1,100 scientific publications to his name, Dr. Duarte is ranked as the top marine biologist and the 12th most influential climate scientist worldwide according to Reuters, reflecting the extraordinary impact of his scholarly contributions. His work has demonstrated that marine ecosystems possess remarkable resilience when human pressures are reduced, offering hope for recovery even in heavily impacted environments.
As CEO of the Global Coral R&D Accelerator Platform, Dr. Duarte is spearheading international efforts to address the coral reef crisis through innovative conservation and restoration strategies that aim to rebuild ecosystem resilience at scale. His leadership extends to global policy arenas, having been appointed to the Expert Group supporting the UN's initiative to develop a pathway toward a Sustainable Ocean Economy that balances ecological health with human needs. Dr. Duarte has received numerous prestigious accolades including the BBVA Foundation Frontiers of Knowledge Award in Ecology and Conservation Biology (2020), the Ramon Margalef Ecology Award (2019), and the Carlo Heip award for Excellence in Marine Biodiversity Research (2018), underscoring his exceptional contributions to marine science. His current work focuses on implementing solutions to rebuild marine life abundance while addressing the interconnected challenges of climate change and biodiversity loss across multiple ocean ecosystems. Through his visionary leadership and transdisciplinary approach, Dr. Duarte continues to shape the global agenda for ocean conservation and restoration, positioning marine science at the forefront of addressing planetary-scale environmental challenges.
