Robert H. Richmond, Ph.D.

Research

Bob Richmond is a research professor and director of the University of Hawaii’s Kewalo Marine Laboratory. Richmond has spent his career studying coral reef ecosystems in the Caribbean and the Pacific, including the Virgin Islands, the Grenadines, the Galapagos Islands, Hawaii, Japan, and—for more than 30 years—Micronesia. Richmond used his Pew fellowship to further develop biomarkers as a forensic tool to identify which particular stressors are affecting corals, their relative contributions to reductions in coral health, and their application as a means to establish meaningful environmental standards and to measure the efficacy of mitigation efforts. He conducted field work in Guam, Palau, Yap Island, the Marshall Islands, and Hawaii. He also developed techniques allowing managers to identify “the smoking gun” when coral reef loss occurs, quantify the relative contributions of multiple stressors to coral reef loss, and measure the effectiveness of mitigation measures. Data robust enough to stand up in court will enable these techniques to be used to support voluntary compliance or provide for enforcement through the judicial process. To learn more about Richmond, visit his bio online. http://www.centerforoceansolutions.org/team/robert-richmond