Harmony Martell studies what makes corals resistant to bleaching and develops techniques to enhance coral resilience against climate change. Harmony’s work has spanned molecular to ocean basin scales, leading her from the lab to coral reefs around the world conducting research. She holds advanced degrees in marine biology, coastal management, and ecology. She was a contributor to the documentary film Chasing Coral, a postdoctoral research fellow, and is currently a consultant.

While her heart belongs to the sea, Harmony has dedicated herself to the advancement of underrepresented groups in science and higher education. A former high school science teacher, she is a seasoned educator and has led science outreach initiatives for underrepresented groups. She is currently writing a children’s book about female marine scientists to help her children cope with her absence while she’s in the field. Harmony has strived to be a vocal and visible mama working towards normalizing motherhood in academia to promote the retention of female scientists. 

Harmony is passionate about sharing the importance of corals from both an environmental and cultural perspective. As a science communicator, she shares the plight of coral reefs, telling stories of people like herself who are actively working to save them. She has been fortunate to work with indigenous traditional owners and stewards of the environmental resources she seeks to protect. Harmony uses her voice, research, and art to advocate, elevate their stories, and inspire change. She works tirelessly toward this goal, motivated by the desire for her children to experience the natural world as she has.