Hillary Smith

Early career researcher with a focus on coral biology, reef ecology, and adaptation to climate change. Using a mixed-methods approach, I investigate the interactions between reef taxa from the cellular to the ecosystem level. My work uses a range of techniques, including molecular biology and genomics, microbial ecology, physiology, macro-ecology, field- and lab-based experiments to understand the relationships between species. Recent work incorporates significant outreach and engagement through citizen science involvement in reef restoration research.

Most recently, I have been involved in developing and testing local scale reef restoration techniques on the Great Barrier Reef including macroalgae removal (“sea-weeding”) and coral larval enhancement (“coral IVF”) and investigating the ecosystem-wide effects of such techniques. This work is in partnership with Earthwatch Australia and incorporates citizen scientists, which allows a unique opportunity for science education and outreach.

Prior to my science career, I completed a Bachelor of Fine Arts and worked for several years in the arts. In addition to my scientific pursuits, I have a passion for creating conceptual scientific illustrations to bridge the gap between science and art, and to communicate complex scientific ideas with beautifully rendered images.