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David Obura, pH. D.
David Obura, Ph.D. is a Kenyan biologist and ecologist focused primarily on coral reef and marine resilience and recovery dynamics. His scientific career has put great emphasis on communication and outreach to policy makers, shareholders, and young scientists.

Early Life and Education
Dr. Obura was born in 1966 and grew up in Nairobi, Kenya and showed an early interest in humanity's relationship with nature. His curiosity for the natural world was sparked by frequent safari and hiking trips. He attended St. Andrews Turi in his youth then Strathmore College (now Strathmore University). His first experience with marine systems was during his education at Pearson College in Canada, during a project focused on monitoring ecological reserves around Canadian Islands. After earning his Bachelor of Arts Degree with Honour at Harvard University in 1985, Obura decided to continue his education and further study coral reef dynamics at the University of Miami in Florida. There, Obura earned his Doctorate of Philosophy (Ph.D.), in 1995 in the Division of Marine Biology, Fisheries, Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Sciences (RSMAS) under Dr. Peter W. Glynn in 1995.

Career
In 1999, Obura founded a non-profit knowledge-sharing institution, the Coastal Oceans Research and Development Indian Ocean (CORDIO) East Africa to connect scientists, help young people in Kenya explore interests in marine biology, monitor East African coral reefs, share information and research, and communicate to policymakers. Based out of Mombasa, Kenya, he continues his work with CORDIO through primary research and science communication about coral bleaching and the importance of coral inn ocean systems. CORDIO works with a number of partners such as the World Wildlife Foundation(WWF) and the Nairobi Convention to further coral and marine research along the Indian Ocean's coast. With the WWF, CORDIO works through an the Northern Mozambique Channel Initiative with local people, government, and shareholders to create integrated and sustainable solutions to manage ocean ecosystem services and protect natural communities in and around the Northern Mozambique Channel. In 2008 Obura became the Chair of the Coral Species Specialist Group of the International Union for the Conservation of Nature's Species Survival Commission. Also through the IUCN, Obura became a Chair of the Working Group on Climate Change and Coral Reefs and co-authored an agenda for action from the IUCN World Conservation Congress in 2009. He is also a current Adjunct Fellow in the School of Biological Sciences at the University of Queensland in Brisbane, Australia. In 2013, Obura became a member of the Global Partnership for Oceans Blue Ribbon Panel. Starting in 2007, Dr. Obura was a Chairman of the Board at the Kwetu Training Centre and continues to contribute to their The Blue Economy action magazine. Additionally, as of 2011, Dr. Obura has led in the promotion of world heritage in the Western Indian Ocean via report publications.

Research
Dr. Obura's research primarily deals with coral and coral reef resilience against environmental changes associated with climate. By investigating the evolutionary histories and individual coral life strategies, Obura hopes to further understand the short-term changes corals undergo, and how that research can be applied to predicting climate change response and increasing the adaptability of other coral species. Another facet of Dr. Obura's research is humanity's relationships with natural systems, and how to mediate those relationships so that they are more sustainable for the system, the shareholders, and policymakers with the goal of increased food and life security. While the majority of Obura's research is based on coral systems along the Kenyan coast in the Indian Ocean, Obura has collaborated with a number of organizations and peers to apply knowledge to other systems.

Journal Articles and Symposiums

 * 1) Obura, DO (2012) The diversity and biogeography of WesternIndian Ocean reef-building corals. PLOS ONE.http://dx.plos.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0045013.
 * 2) Obura, DO (2012) Evolutionary mechanisms and diversity in a western Indian Ocean center of diversity. Proceedings of the 12th International Coral Reef Symposium, Cairns, Australia, 9-13 July 2012. Session 3A Evolution, biogeography and taxonomy.
 * 3) Díaz, S., Settele, J., Brondízio, E. S., Ngo, H. T., Agard, J., Arneth, A., . . . Zayas, C. N. (2019). Pervasive human-driven decline of life on Earth points to the need for transformative change. Science, 366(6471). doi:10.1126/science.aax3100.
 * 4) Carpenter, K. E., Abrar, M., Aeby, G., Aronson, R. B., Banks, S., Bruckner, A., . . . Wood, E. (2008). One-Third of Reef-Building Corals Face Elevated Extinction Risk from Climate Change and Local Impacts. Science, 321(5888), 560-563. doi:10.1126/science.1159196
 * 5) Mcclanahan, T., Kamukuru, A., Muthiga, N., Yebio, M. G., & Obura, D. (1996). Effect of Sea Urchin Reductions on Algae, Coral, and Fish Populations. Conservation Biology, 10(1), 136-154. doi:10.1046/j.1523-1739.1996.10010136.x

Textbooks and Status Reports

 * 1) Stone, G. & Obura, D.O. (Eds) (2012) Underwater Eden – the PhoenixIslands. University of Chicago Press
 * 2) Obura, D.O., Tamelander, J., & Linden, O. (Eds) (2008) Ten years after bleaching – facing the consequences of climate change in theIndian Ocean. CORDIO Status Report 2007. CORDIO (Coastal OceansResearch and Development, Indian Ocean)/Sida-SAREC. Mombasa.http//:www.cordioea.org. ISBN 91-973959-5-1 . 500 pp
 * 3) Linden, O., Souter, D., Wilhelmsson, D., Obura, D.O., (Eds.) (2002).Coral Reef Degradation In The India Ocean. Status reports 2002.CORDIO/SAREC Marine Science Program
 * 4) McClanahan, T.R., Sheppard, C.R.C. & Obura, D.O. (2000). CoralReefs Of The Indian Ocean: Their Ecology And Conservation. OUP