About us
SECORE International, Inc. is a leading conservation organization for the restoration of coral reefs. With sound science as the basis of our work, findings and developed methods are translated by engineers into innovative techniques and tools to implement reef restoration at much larger scales than currently possible―which is urgently needed, regarding the dire situation of coral reefs worldwide.
We have established a global network of scientists, public aquarium professionals as well as local authorities, partners and stakeholders. We share our knowledge in training events and workshops, and mentor our partners for implementing new techniques on-site.
Our focus is to work with breeding corals, enabling us to get huge numbers of coral babies by collecting coral germ cells during natural spawning events on the reef, while supporting the corals' genetic diversity and consequently promoting reef resilience at the same time. We develop tools to raise corals without the need for sophisticated land-based facilities and to bring them back to the wild in more efficient ways. We are dedicated to giving coral reefs a fighting chance for the future!
Our Mission: creating and sharing the tools and technologies to sustainably restore coral reefs worldwide.
Our Vision: a world where thriving coral reefs support healthy oceans for future generations.
SECORE International is a nonprofit, tax-exempt corporation under Section 501 (c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. The corporation is based in Ohio (USA).
For media inquiries please contact:
Dr. Carin Jantzen, c.jantzen@secore.org and Lucas Ney, l.ney@secore.org
Current job openings
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see our vacancies at OUR WORK - Job Opportunities with SECORE
Like a coral reef, we believe SECORE thrives with diversity
SECORE strongly believes that a community of diverse backgrounds, beliefs, ethnicities and cultures best prepares us to achieve our research, conservation, and restoration goals. Our strategy for implementing large scale coral restoration depends on working and partnering in many nations and across cultures. We appreciate that every person brings a unique viewpoint and experience to advance our mission, and we seek for our staff and boards to increasingly represent and encompass the diverse cultures, backgrounds, orientations, and perspectives of the communities in which we work and live. SECORE maintains that inclusion requires an ongoing commitment, one we enthusiastically make to build an organization that actively supports diversity across all lines of difference including age, economic circumstance, ethnicity, sex, race, range of ability, sexual orientation, and gender identity/expression.
Staff
Dr. Dirk Petersen, Founder and Executive Director
Mary Kate Cullen, B.Sc., Operations Manager
Dr. Carin Jantzen, PR Officer
Lucas Ney, M.Sc., Communications and Outreach Specialist
Dr. Margaret Miller, Research Director
Dr. Valérie Chamberland, Research Scientist, Curaçao
Kelly Latijnhouwers, M.Sc., Caribbean Restoration Coordinator, Curaçao
Sandra Mendoza Quiroz, M.Sc., Mexico Restoration Coordinator, Mexico
Eduardo Antonio Avila Pech, B.Sc., Roving Restoration Technician
Aric Bickel, M.A., Director of Technology and Implementation
Miles Louis McGonigle, B.Sc., Project Engineer, Miami
Tania Doblado Speck, M.Sc., Caribbean Training Coordinator, Mexico
Development and Major gifts
Lori Hunter Overmyer, MBA, CFRE, Development Executive - Goettler Associates
l.overmyer@secore.org
Board of Directors
Dr. Richard Shank – chairman – The Shank Family Foundation, USA
Michelle Galligan – vice-chairwoman – ViaVero, USA
Bart Shepherd, M.Sc. – secretary – Steinhart Aquarium, Cal. Academy of Sciences, USA
Laura Byrne, Esq. – treasurer – Byrne and Byrne, USA
Suzanne Green – The Green Foundation, USA
Stephanie Stone - Communications Consultant, USA
Brian Dudley – Aquatic Adventures, USA
Dr. Jené Kapela, – Kapela Leadership Solutions, USA
Scientific Advisory Board
Dr. Margaret Miller, SECORE International, Chair
Prof. Andrew Baker, University of Miami, USA
Dr. Elvira Alvarado Chacon, Universidad de Bogota Jorge Tadeo Lozan, Colombia
Prof. Iliana Baums – Penn State University, USA
Dr. James Guest – Newcastle University, UK
Dr. Rebecca Albright - California Academy of Sciences, USA
Prof. Peter Harrison - Director, Marine Ecology Research Centre, Southern Cross University, Australia
Dr. Valerie Paul, Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History, USA
Zoo and Aquarium Advisory Board
Aric Bickel, SECORE International, Chair
Richard Ross – Steinhart Aquarium, California Academy of Sciences, USA
Mark Schick – Shedd Aquarium, USA
Mitch Carl – Omaha’s Henry Doorly Zoo and Aquarium, USA
Media and Communications
Paul Selvaggio – photography, Pittsburgh Zoo & PPG Aquarium
Vanessa Cara-Kerr - videography and production, Reef Patrol
Nele Schütz - graphic design, Nele Schütz Design
Mike McCue - videography, Marine Science Center Florida
Suchana Patel - marketing advisor
Claartje Visser – consulting, CLAARTJEVISSER.NL
Legal Counsel
Peter A. Precario, J.D. – Policy Advisor, Columbus, USA
Alexander Bulach, J.D. – Attorney at Law, Munich, Germany
Lead partners
References
In the media
2020/1 Growing Coral, ECO Magazine
Future Oceans - Women working to save coral reefs in Mexico
2019/2 - Feature about Dr. Anastazia Banaszak, lead of our joint restoration project in Mexico, Lenny Letter
Collapsing coral reefs — can we rebuild them? together with Terry Hughes (James Cook University, Australia)
2019/1 - Interview with Research Director Margaret Miller on Radio CBC - Quirks & Quarks
Scientific publications
2020/3 Larval longevity and competency patterns of Caribbean reef-building corals
Elisa Bayraktarov, Anastazia T. Banaszak, et al. (2020) PLOS ONE Coral reef restoration efforts in Latin American countries and territories. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0228477
2020/2 - Coral reef restoration efforts in Latin American countries and territories
John Everett Parkinson Andrew C. Baker Iliana B. Baums Sarah W. Davies Andréa G. Grottoli Sheila A. Kitchen Mikhail V. Matz Margaret W. Miller Andrew A. Shantz Carly D. Kenkel (2020): Molecular tools for coral reef restoration: Beyond biomarker discovery. Conservation Letters, DOI: 10.1111/conl.12687
2020/1 - Molecular tools for coral reef restoration: Beyond biomarker discovery
Save our future - protect coral reefs
Mail to info@secore.org or fill out the form
4673 Northwest Parkway Hilliard
Ohio, 43026
USA
phone: +1 - 614 - 969 - 3150