Tackling coral health from a new angle – University of Miami News

Report on an Innovative Engineering Solution for Coral Reef Protection Aligned with Sustainable Development Goals

Executive Summary

In response to widespread coral bleaching events threatening marine ecosystems, a team of engineering students from the University of Miami has developed an innovative shading device named “Kanopi.” This project directly addresses the urgent need to protect vital coral reefs from thermal stress caused by increased ocean temperatures and solar radiation. The initiative represents a significant contribution to several United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), most notably SDG 14 (Life Below Water), SDG 13 (Climate Action), and SDG 9 (Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure).

Project Initiative: The Kanopi Solution

The Kanopi device was conceived as an engineering-focused solution to the Coral Thermal Stress Design Thinking Challenge issued by the National Marine Sanctuary Foundation. The student team won a grant to manufacture their prototype, which is designed to be a temporary and easily deployable shield for vulnerable coral populations.

• Design: The Kanopi is a floating, blanket-like structure built from interlocking hexagons with an inflatable border.
• Functionality: It floats on the ocean’s surface above shallow reefs (less than 20 meters deep) to reduce exposure to harmful ultraviolet (UV) rays, thereby mitigating one of the primary drivers of coral bleaching.
• Deployment: The modular design allows it to be expanded or contracted to fit various reef sizes and will be attached to existing mooring balls to minimize impact on the marine substrate.
• Material: The coverage cloth is designed to block harmful UV radiation while being safe for the marine environment and not fully inhibiting the photosynthetic processes essential for coral health.

Direct Contribution to SDG 14: Life Below Water

The project is a direct intervention to conserve and sustainably use marine resources, aligning squarely with the objectives of SDG 14. Coral reefs, often called the “rainforests of the ocean,” are critical to marine biodiversity, and their protection is essential for healthy and productive oceans.

1. Protecting Marine Ecosystems (Target 14.2): The Kanopi provides a direct method to protect and manage vulnerable coastal ecosystems, aiming to avoid the significant adverse impacts of coral bleaching. With reports indicating that 80 percent of global corals have faced bleaching-level stress since 2023, this solution offers a critical tool for resilience.
2. Conserving Marine Biodiversity: By shielding corals, the project helps preserve the habitats that support a vast host of marine life, thus contributing to the conservation of marine biodiversity.
3. Supporting Restoration Efforts: While marine biologists work on developing thermal-tolerant coral species, the Kanopi serves as a complementary, non-biological tool that can reduce immediate stress and support the survival of existing reefs.

Alignment with Broader Sustainable Development Goals

Beyond its primary focus on marine life, the Kanopi project intersects with other crucial SDGs, demonstrating a holistic approach to sustainable development.

• SDG 13: Climate Action: Coral bleaching is a direct consequence of climate change and rising ocean temperatures. The Kanopi is an adaptive measure designed to mitigate the immediate impacts of these climate-related hazards on a vulnerable natural system.
• SDG 9: Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure: The project is a prime example of fostering innovation to address environmental challenges. Developed by graduate students in the College of Engineering, it showcases how academic and engineering ingenuity can produce tangible solutions for environmental resilience.
• SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals: The initiative’s success is built on collaboration. Key partnerships include:
  • The University of Miami (Academia)
  • The National Marine Sanctuary Foundation (Non-profit/Foundation)
  • Guidance from the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary (Governmental/Scientific Body)
  • Engagement with marine science experts and ocean conservation leaders at events like the Reef Futures Conference and Capitol Hill Ocean Week.

Development Status and Future Outlook

The project has progressed from concept to a functional prototype, with ongoing refinement and testing. The team aims to improve the design to create a globally scalable tool for ocean conservation.

1. The team won the National Marine Sanctuary Foundation’s design competition, securing a grant for manufacturing.
2. The design has been refined multiple times based on guidance from faculty and marine science experts.
3. The first prototype was successfully manufactured and tested in a controlled pool environment at the University of Miami.
4. The team’s ultimate goal is for the Kanopi to serve as an effective, temporary, and widely deployable tool to reduce stress on corals internationally, contributing to the long-term health of vital ocean ecosystems.

Analysis of Sustainable Development Goals in the Article

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

The article discusses issues and solutions that are directly and indirectly connected to several Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The primary focus on protecting coral reefs aligns with SDG 14, while the underlying causes and the nature of the solution connect to other goals.

• SDG 14: Life Below Water

  This is the most central SDG in the article. The entire narrative revolves around the threat to coral reefs, described as “rainforests of the ocean,” and the effort to protect these “vital ocean ecosystems.” The article highlights the devastating impact of coral bleaching on marine life and the urgent need for conservation efforts.

• SDG 13: Climate Action

  The article explicitly links the problem of coral bleaching to climate-related factors. It states that “strong light, along with hot ocean water temperatures, often cause corals to expel their algae, bleach, and die.” This directly connects the threat to coral reefs to the broader issue of climate change and rising global temperatures, making climate action a relevant goal.

• SDG 9: Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure

  The solution presented in the article is an “innovative device” created by engineering students. The development of the “Kanopi shade” as a “pure engineering solution” to a complex environmental problem is a clear example of fostering innovation. The process described, from design challenge to prototype manufacturing and testing, embodies the spirit of this goal.

• SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals

  The project’s success and development are a result of collaboration between various entities. The article mentions the partnership between the “four University of Miami engineering students,” the “National Marine Sanctuary Foundation,” “faculty at the College of Engineering,” and the “Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary.” This multi-stakeholder collaboration to address a global challenge is the core of SDG 17.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

Based on the article’s details, several specific SDG targets can be identified:

1. Target 14.2: Sustainably manage and protect marine and coastal ecosystems

   The article’s main objective is to “prevent more damage to these vital ocean ecosystems.” The Kanopi device is designed to float “above coral reefs to protect these vital marine habitats” from the stress that causes bleaching. This directly aligns with the goal of protecting marine ecosystems to avoid adverse impacts and strengthen their resilience.

2. Target 13.1: Strengthen resilience and adaptive capacity to climate-related hazards

   The Kanopi is an adaptive measure designed to help coral reefs cope with a climate-related hazard, namely “unprecedented warm-water temperatures” and strong UV rays. By shielding the corals, the device aims to “reduce stress on corals internationally” and strengthen their ability to survive in changing ocean conditions, thus enhancing their resilience.

3. Target 9.5: Enhance scientific research, upgrade the technological capabilities… and encourage innovation

   The project is a direct outcome of a “Coral Thermal Stress Design Thinking Challenge” and represents a technological innovation. The students’ work, from designing and refining their idea to manufacturing and testing their “first prototype,” is a clear example of scientific research and development aimed at creating a new solution for conservation.

4. Target 17.16: Enhance the global partnership for sustainable development, complemented by multi-stakeholder partnerships

   The article highlights a partnership that mobilizes knowledge, expertise, and financial resources. The collaboration involves academia (University of Miami), a non-profit foundation (National Marine Sanctuary Foundation), and government-affiliated bodies (Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary). The team also engaged with “marine science experts” and “ocean conservation leaders,” demonstrating a multi-stakeholder approach to achieving a common goal.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

The article mentions or implies several indicators that can be used to measure the problem and the progress of the solution:

• Indicator for Target 14.2:

  A key indicator of the problem’s scale is explicitly stated: “Since 2023, 80 percent of corals across the world have incurred bleaching-level stress.” Progress towards this target could be measured by the reduction in the percentage of bleached corals in areas where the Kanopi device is deployed. The article also specifies the scope of the intervention, targeting “coral that is shallower than 20 meters deep,” which provides a measurable boundary for the project.

• Indicator for Target 13.1:

  An implied indicator is the survival rate of corals under the Kanopi shade during periods of high thermal stress. The article states the goal is to “reduce UV exposure so they can survive.” Measuring the difference in health and survival rates between shaded and unshaded corals during a marine heatwave would serve as a direct indicator of the project’s success in strengthening resilience.

• Indicator for Target 9.5:

  Indicators of innovation and research activity are present throughout the article. These include the creation of the “Kanopi” prototype, the act of winning a “grant to manufacture their shading solution,” and the process of testing the prototype “in a pool at the University.” The number of such innovative solutions developed and tested serves as a measure of progress.

• Indicator for Target 17.16:

  The existence and nature of the partnership itself serve as an indicator. The article identifies the specific stakeholders involved: the student team, the National Marine Sanctuary Foundation, the University of Miami’s College of Engineering, and the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary. The number and diversity of organizations collaborating on the project are a measure of a successful multi-stakeholder partnership.

4. Table of SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Source: news.miami.edu