Sofia Mendez

Colombian marine biologist leading coral restoration in Caribbean coral reefs

Sofia Mendez pioneered CoralVivo, a coral restoration project in Colombia's Rosario Islands that combines biotechnology with community engagement. Her team's 2020 breakthrough involved developing coral 'nurseries' using 3D-printed reef structures made from recycled ocean plastics. By 2024, they had restored 12km² of degraded reef areas, creating habitats for 80+ marine species while supporting local tourism economies.

Mendez's approach integrates indigenous knowledge with modern science. She collaborates with Wayuu and Kogui communities to use traditional sea grass cultivation techniques alongside cutting-edge larval propagation methods. Her WWF partnership trains fishermen as coral caretakers, providing alternative livelihoods during fishing bans. A 2023 study in Science Advances credited her project with increasing fish biomass by 65% in restoration zones.

Her journey began during the 2015 El Niño crisis when she documented massive coral bleaching during her PhD research at University of Cartagena. The National Geographic Explorer grant she received in 2021 enabled scaling her work. Critics doubted community participation effectiveness, but her 2023 paper demonstrated how local stewardship increased project success rates by 40%. Her TED talk "Rebuilding Coral Cities" inspired similar initiatives in Belize and Panama.