Diving Into Restoration: A Summer of Coral Reefs, Fish, and Field Research

By Sofia Lara

Hi everyone! My name is Sofia Lara, and I’m a rising senior at Florida State University majoring in Environmental Science. I’m originally from Miami, Florida, but I've also lived in Texas and even Mexico! I’ve lived by the coast my entire life and being surrounded by such a rich environment has fueled my passion for learning about the earth systems we inhabit and how to best protect them.

This summer, with the support of the Tyler Grant, I’ll be traveling to Bonaire in the southern Caribbean to conduct independent research on coral reef restoration and fish communities. Along with Dr. Andrew Rassweilers Lab, I’ll be participating in underwater fish transects at both wild and restored Acropora cervicornis reef sites. My research will explore whether these restoration efforts are also succeeding in restoring fish communities and ecosystem functionality—not just the coral structures themselves.

My curiosity for ecology and fieldwork started when I joined FSU’s Undergraduate Research Opportunity Program (UROP). Through that program, I connected with Allie Blanchette and began assisting with her work, which included watching and annotating fish behavior in video footage from Bonaire’s reefs. I found it fascinating to understand how species interact and respond to environmental changes. I’ve been working in the lab ever since, and when the opportunity to join the field research team came up, I knew I had to be part of it.

To prepare, I applied and was accepted into FSU’s Scientific Diving course and even received a scholarship to help cover the cost. Learning to SCUBA dive has been one of the most exciting and fulfilling experiences I’ve had at FSU so far. It’s both fun and physically demanding, but it’s shown me just how much I love being in the field, actively contributing to science.

Through this summer research project, I hope to sharpen my skills as a scientific diver, gain a deeper understanding of reef ecology, and contribute valuable data to help assess restoration progress in Bonaire. I’m especially excited to explore questions about species diversity, fish abundance, and habitat complexity, and how all of that ties back to the health and success of restored reefs.

Looking forward, I plan to pursue a career in marine science, ideally working in ecosystem restoration or conservation. My dream is to combine fieldwork, community outreach, and environmental science to make a real impact—especially in coastal communities like the one I grew up in. Being Mexican-American and surrounded by diverse cultures my whole life, I also believe global environmental work needs diverse voices, and I’m proud to be a part of that movement.

Thanks for following along! I can’t wait to share updates from Bonaire as I dive into this exciting chapter.