Ove Hoegh-Guldberg

Ove Hoegh-Guldberg stands as one of the world's most influential marine scientists, serving as Professor of Marine Studies at the University of Queensland and making groundbreaking contributions to coral reef research and marine ecosystem conservation. His distinguished career includes founding the Global Change Institute and serving as Deputy Director of the Centre for Excellence in Coral Reef Studies, while also holding an affiliated professorship at the University of Copenhagen. His landmark 1999 paper was among the first to warn about climate change threats to coral reefs, predicting potential reef loss by 2050. As a highly cited researcher in climate change, he has secured over $150 million in research funding and led major initiatives including the XL-Catlin Seaview Survey, which documented over 1000 km of coral reefs across 25 countries. His recent work focuses on the innovative "50 Reefs" initiative, using Nobel prize-winning portfolio theory to identify coral reef sanctuaries most likely to survive climate change, leading to nearly $93 million in conservation investments. In recognition of his contributions, he has received numerous prestigious honors including the Eureka Prize for Scientific Research, an ARC Laureate Fellowship, and election to the Australian Academy of Science. His leadership extends to key roles with the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) as Coordinating Lead Author for both the Oceans chapter and the Special Report on 1.5°C warming