When the classroom becomes a coral reef

This past summer, I returned to a remote corner of Indonesia, the Wakatobi Marine National Park. The National Park sits at the epicentre of the Coral Triangle, home to the highest marine biodiversity on Earth.

However, this time, I wasn’t there as a researcher or on holiday. Instead, I was teaching the next generation of scientists, showing them how geospatial technology can work hand-in-hand with marine conservation. 

A 15-Year Journey

My connection to the National Park began 15 years ago as an undergraduate Zoology student conducting thesis research on pristine coral reefs.  

I was captivated by the opportunity to work in such a remote location and learn from the Sampella Bajau community, an indigenous people whose entire culture revolves around the sea, living in stilt villages built over the water. 

Last year, my family and I returned for a visit, reconnecting with old friends. This year was different. From late June to July 2025, I served as Scientific Divemaster at the Hoga Island Marine Station, part of Operation Wallacea’s research program that has produced over 200 peer-reviewed papers in nearly 30 years. 

From Researcher to Educator

My role included teaching volunteers from around the world (such as students from UK, Singapore, Belgium, Australia, and New Zealand) how to conduct rigorous marine research. This meant training them in scientific diving, coral reef ecology, species identification, and survey techniques, including benthic transects and monitoring of the Mars Assisted Reef Restoration System.

However, I felt there was an opportunity to offer something additional: to show these future scientists how the work we do at NGIS directly improves conservation outcomes globally. In my weekly lectures on data analysis for conservation, I demonstrated how satellite imagery and Earth Observation technologies extend field research.  

The underwater surveys students conducted, vital as they were, represented localised data points. Geospatial analysis reveals the larger patterns, tracking seagrass biomass across vast areas, monitoring deforestation in supply chains, and providing key insights into biodiversity and the risks it faces globally, biodiversity and the risks it faces, empowering those making the most impactful decisions.  

I shared examples of NGIS projects addressing sustainability challenges across industries, from fashion supply chain transparency to coffee traceability to palm oil certification. The fundamental tools remain consistent: spatial data analysis, remote sensing, risk assessment, and evidence-based decision-making. These same approaches inform effective marine conservation. 

The students were working at one of Earth’s most biodiverse locations, but the threats these reefs face, climate change, ocean warming, biodiversity loss, demand both local action and global perspective. I wanted them to understand that impactful conservation happens in the field and in sophisticated data analysis platforms. 

The Human Side of Conservation

Equally important was conveying that conservation isn’t just about data, it’s about people. The Wakatobi program operates in partnership with local communities.

Over the decades, former bomb fishermen and coconut farmers have become rangers, dive guides, and research assistants. This transformation demonstrates that when science is supported in community, it becomes sustainable. 

Students witnessed this firsthand, interacting with Bajau community members and learning how traditional marine knowledge complements scientific research. My six-year-old daughter participated in shore-based conservation work and spent loads of time with children of local families as well as of other volunteers, a living example of the cross-cultural collaboration essential to future conservation efforts.

Teaching the Scientists of the Future

This was challenging work, managing students with varying experience levels, multiple dives daily, ensuring both safety and scientific rigor. But the rewards were extraordinary: watching students develop confidence underwater, grasp complex ecological relationships, and begin thinking about how to incorporate spatial analysis into their own research. 

The data these students collected contributes to a 15-year monitoring program tracking changes in the Wakatobi’s reefs and informing management decisions. But equally valuable was developing a cohort of conservation scientists who understand that addressing environmental challenges requires integrating multiple approaches. 

A Professional Perspective

This experience reinforced what we know at NGIS: the most effective solutions emerge when we combine local expertise with global tools, traditional knowledge with cutting-edge technology, and field observation with satellite data. The next generation of conservation scientists will need to be as comfortable analysing Earth Observation data as they are conducting underwater surveys. 

The Coral Triangle faces serious challenges, such as ocean warming, coral bleaching, and habitat degradation. But working with passionate students, witnessing research-community partnerships, and seeing commitment to both active restoration and long-term monitoring gave me tremendous hope. 

The skills I’ve developed at NGIS, understanding how geospatial technology addresses complex sustainability challenges, communicating technical concepts to diverse audiences, and recognising that impactful solutions require collaboration across disciplines, have proved directly applicable to conservation education. The students I worked with this summer represent the future of science-based environmental stewardship, and I’m honoured to have contributed to their development. 

If they’re any indication of what’s coming, we’re in excellent hands.

By Shawna Sanfey, Principal Consultant in EO, NGIS