Coral reefs, despite covering only 0.1% of the Earth’s surface, are home to nearly one-fourth of all marine species.
They provide significant benefits, such as shoreline protection, contributions to medical research, and an annual economic impact exceeding $375 billion in goods and services.
However, alarming predictions indicate that by 2050, up to 90% of coral reefs may vanish, severely affecting water quality and oxygen-releasing plant life.
In response to this crisis, the Students for Coral Preservation, a group hailing from MAST Academy and Miami Country Day, held their inaugural Coral Appreciation event and Augmented Reality Coral Art Show at Village Hall, sponsored by Youth Lead Change on Key Biscayne.
The event featured an immersive augmented reality experience showcasing coral-themed art created by students, aimed at promoting citizen science education and action.
Pat Woodson, President of Green Champions at MAST and Executive Director of Youth Lead Change, expressed the significance of the event, stating, “This immersive augmented reality experience showcases coral art made by students in support of citizen science education and action by students.”
Andrei Steyn, who founded Students for Coral Preservation a year and a half ago, served as the Master of Ceremonies for the occasion.
He remarked, “We are honored to have had support from Village Resilience Officer Dr. Roland Samimy to launch this project,” highlighting the teamwork behind their mission.
Andrei added that they are proud to have attracted over 80 students through various initiatives, including a speaker series, dive experiences, and events like Coral Appreciation Day.
Looking ahead, the group plans to broaden its mission internationally, intending to participate in the UN Ocean Conference in June.
Key Biscayne Mayor Joe Rasco acknowledged the group’s efforts, presenting a proclamation at a recent Village Council meeting.
During the meeting, he emphasized the community’s role in maintaining the health of Biscayne Bay and the essential function of coral reefs in supporting aquatic ecosystems and moderating storm surges.
Mayor Rasco commended the students, affirming, “You folks from MAST are doing a wonderful job promoting preservation of coral reefs,” while declaring May 13, 2025, as “Coral Appreciation Day in Key Biscayne” to further recognize their advocacy.
The Augmented Reality Art Show is available to view through Oceans Day in June and can be explored at various select locations including the Key Biscayne Oval, Park, and Village Hall via the ARMiami app on both Apple and Android devices.
Visitors interested in viewing the art can locate the Coral Art Walk signs at The Oval, Paradise Park, or the Civic Center Courtyard, where QR codes can be scanned for detailed information.
The event also featured notable speakers, including marine scientist Colin Foord, educator Gabriela Perez, and marine artist Gustavo Oviedo, who displayed both paintings and sculptures.
Foord, the founder of Coral Morphologic, highlighted the importance of corals in establishing living, resilient infrastructures for healthy oceans and coastal protection.
He is also the creator of Coral City Camera, a live-streamed project that offers a continuous view of a healthy coral community in Biscayne Bay, available at Coralcitycamera.com.
Kai Lingswiller, a sophomore from MAST Academy, shared his involvement with the group alongside Andrei as they coordinate various coral projects.
As a volunteer at Shake-A-Leg and a sailing instructor at Miami Yacht Club, Kai emphasized his drive for action, stating, “Climate change and pollution, damaging ocean ecosystems, drive me to take action.
That’s why I’m involved with Students for Coral Preservation, to help protect the reefs I love and ensure they thrive for future generations.”
The art show showcases an ocean debris-based sculpture by acclaimed Miami artist Oviedo, in addition to coral-themed creations by students from MAST Academy and Miami Country Day.
The event also awarded cash prizes to three of the student artists from MAST Academy: Gabriela Lopez took first place, Sol Otoya secured second, and Diego Lopez came in third.
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