Welcome to Art x Science Conversations, a collaborative initiative by Emerging Creatives of Science (ECOS) and The Experimentalist, two creative science communication platforms on a mission to make science more accessible, engaging and fun. This webinar series brings together the science communicators to explore topics at the intersection of art and science, discussing key challenges and innovative solutions. The insights from these conversations are then transformed into public-facing content, including a podcast on Spotify, blog articles, and social media posts, ensuring that the knowledge and ideas generated reach a broader audience.

We are back with another episode, this time diving into the captivating stories of coral reefs from unexpected places.

Home to nearly a quarter of all marine species, reefs are both among the most biodiverse and most threatened ecosystems on Earth. More than just icons of climate change, corals are living laboratories that hold lessons about resilience, adaptation, and interconnectedness.

📅 Webinar Date: Thursday, September 18th, 2025

⏰ Time: 8 am PST | 6 pm Saudi Arabia (confirm this time for your timezone)

⌛️Duration: 90 minutes [35 minutes of moderated panel discussion followed by expert stories and audience discussion]

Webinar Focus: When you think of corals, do you imagine studying them in the backdrop of a desert? 🪸

We certainly didn’t. And this inspired us to host two terrific reef researchers from Arizona in the USA and Saudi Arabia. In this session, we look beyond bleaching and decline to explore fresh perspectives on coral science — from symbiosis to resilience and innovation.

🪸 The unique biochemistry of coral ecosystems

🪸 The challenges and perks of establishing coral hubs in desert environments

🪸 Corals as models for probiotics and longevity research

🪸 Thriving of global scientific collaborations in coral systems, even when labs are oceans apart

🪸 How can creative science communicators raise awareness and stewardship of corals in other locations to help everyday people better connect to these organisms and the need for this research?

We invite researchers, journalists, and creative science communicators to reimagine coral stories through art, design, storytelling, and multimedia, and to collaborate in shaping narratives that inspire action, amplify hope, and connect coral science to communities worldwide.

Meet the Panelists 🎙️

Dr. Liza M. Roger is an Assistant Professor and Senior Global Futures Scientist at Arizona State University, affiliated with the School of Molecular Sciences and the School of Ocean Futures. Her research explores how environmental change impacts marine organisms that depend on symbiosis with microscopic algae — from corals to mollusks, anemones, and jellyfish. A pioneer of coral in vitro methodologies, she brings a multidisciplinary lens to advancing coral science.

Beyond the lab, Dr. Roger has worked with the Australian Institute of Marine Science on diverse reef projects, served as a cetacean naturalist in Iceland, and taught scuba diving across the Mediterranean and Southeast Asia — experiences that fuel her advocacy for biochemistry’s role in climate solutions and marine conservation.

Dr. Raquel Peixoto is an Associate Professor of Marine Sciences at King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), internationally recognized for her pioneering research on Beneficial Microorganisms for Corals (BMCs). Her work demonstrates how probiotics can strengthen coral resistance and resilience against environmental stress, offering hope for these “canaries of the marine world” facing critical threats.

She is the founder and chair of the Beneficial Microbes for Marine Organisms network (BMMO) and serves as a council member and fellow. Dr. Peixoto has led ICRS delegations at COP26 and COP27, contributes to the G20 CORDAP initiative, and continues to build international platforms that translate fundamental research into practical solutions for marine ecosystems and sustainable development.

Why Does This Conversation Matter? 🤔💭

Reef ecosystems around the world are at a critical tipping point. Over the past two decades, widespread environmental stress has left many marine ecosystems severely degraded, raising urgent questions about their future. To address this, we need a deeper understanding of the molecular, cellular, and environmental factors that influence ecosystem health and resilience.

Corals aren’t just ocean dwellers—they’re storytellers of resilience. Studying them in unexpected places reveals new insights into their adaptability, while sharing these stories through art and science sparks curiosity and inspires action across communities worldwide.

In this conversation, we will ask our panelists and invited experts to shed light on pioneering approaches—from biotechnological innovations to microbial interventions—that offer new pathways for restoration and conservation. Equally important, we will explore how creative science communication can bring these stories of discovery and resilience to broader communities, inspiring action and hope and showing how ecosystems can adapt, recover, and thrive.

How to Participate? 👥

We encourage everyone interested in the intersection of art, science, and policy to join us for this interactive webinar. This conversation is a space to share, learn, and develop strategies that can lead to meaningful change.

Register Here

Organizers: Anurag Srivastava | Melissa Pappas | Eisha Mhatre | Anjleen Hannak

Emerging Creatives of Science (ECOS) is an international community of scientists, artists and storytellers collaboratively communicating science in engaging ways. From scientific illustrators, poets, performance artists and more, each member has creative talents and a background in science, either from their education or from their multiple years of experience working with scientists. We get science, and we know how to inject creativity into the communication of it to make it more inclusive and welcoming.

The Experimentalist is a media platform where science meets storytelling. We feature scientists sharing their behind-the-discovery stories and academic journeys, cover global outreach activities, and foster discussions on key scientific issues. Our workshops equip scientists with creative techniques inspired by artists, transforming them into captivating and effective communicators.