Prof. Carlos Duarte has been a principal investigator and professor at the Tarek Ahmed Juffali Research Chair in Red Sea Ecology (TRSDC) at King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST) since 2015.
TRSDC and KAUST have recently developed an application to conserve and enhance the biodiversity in the Red Sea, and as well as protect endangered species.
TRSDC aims to understand the role of marine life in the functioning of the present and future biosphere, focusing specifically on marine ecosystems in the Red Sea and the response of marine life to environmental drivers and human pressures.
“I have no doubt that the lessons we learn from the application of technology to sustainable development here will be used in the future to benefit fragile ecosystems around the world,” Duarte said.
Born in Lisbon in 1960, Duarte dedicated his life to biology. He received his degree from Univ. Autonoma de Madrid, and his Ph.D. from McGill University in Canada.
After completing his studies, Duarte worked at the Institut de Ciencias del Mar de Barcelona. He then moved to Center d’Estudis Avancat de Blanes to become a research scientist for 9 years.
In 1999, he moved to take another research scientist post, this time at the Instituto Mediterraneo de Estudios Avanzados, from which he is currently on a period of extended leave.
He also holds a post as a director and Winthrop Professor at the Oceans Institute at the University of Western Australia, in addition to being an adjunct professor at Tromso University, Norway.
