Miguel G. Figuerola

e-mail: miguel.figuerola@upr.edu

• Hometown: Cabo Rojo, Puerto Rico

• Previous Education: University of Puerto Rico at Mayagüez

• Research Interest: Coral reef ecology

I was born on March 3, 1991 in Mayaguez, Puerto Rico. My childhood was full of camping, fishing, hiking and other nature activities. My elementary and mid-school where in Mayaguez. Then crossed the street and already was in the Mayaguez college campus. I entered college in the Biology Department with Med-school aspirations. I was trained as a research assistant in a neurobiology laboratory. That experience, combined with a couple of life events and passions, made me realize that oceanography was my real vocation. Between surfing, diving, kayaking, fishing, and swiming the ocean has given me many essential things in my life that made me who I am today. I feel grateful and must give something back. Studying coral reef ecology gives me hope to fulfill that purpose since it helps to understand the sustainable practices that are appropriate to these times marked by uncontrolled exploitation of natural resources.