About
MarineSci4Life
A platform led by marine scientist Colin Howe, dedicated to understanding and protecting tropical marine ecosystems from reefs to microbes and expanding access to science for the next generation of ocean stewards.
MarineSci4Life blends research, fieldwork, mentorship, and storytelling to foster a deeper connection between people and the ocean, especially across Caribbean Island communities where Colin’s scientific journey began.
About: Colin Howe
Colin Howe is a marine scientist whose work is rooted in the tropical waters of the Caribbean. His connection to the ocean began in childhood. During family visits to Dominica, he experienced firsthand the deep cultural bonds. He also saw the ecological bonds that shape island life. Those early encounters laid the foundation for a scientific identity built on curiosity, belonging, and a commitment to conservation.
Colin had forged a clear path toward marine science by the time he completed his undergraduate degree. He overcame barriers commonly faced by people of color in the field. His early internships, fieldwork, and a transformative study-abroad program in Bonaire strengthened his research skills. These experiences also deepened his understanding of how biodiversity, place-based learning, and mentorship shape scientific growth.
Colin’s career deepened when he joined the University of the Virgin Islands as a graduate research assistant. There, he became an accomplished scientific diver. He collected deep-reef data for territorial and national monitoring programs. He also supported coral restoration efforts involving three ecologically critical Caribbean coral species. His work now serves as a model for restoration practices across the region.
In 2020, Colin joined Dr. Mónica Medina’s laboratory at Penn State University after participating in the inaugural NSF Summer Bridge to PhD Program. The experience expanded his scientific autonomy and introduced him to genomics, symbiosis research, and microbial ecology. Colin is now completing his PhD. He is combining field ecology, molecular tools, and computational approaches. His aim is to study coral health, evolution, and conservation.
Colin’s research explores how tropical marine ecosystems respond to environmental stress, focusing on coral health, genomics, and symbiosis. His work integrates:
• Coral reef ecology – Long-term monitoring, health assessments, and restoration of Acropora species.
• Genomics & microbiology – Using molecular tools to understand coral-microbe interactions and evolutionary processes.
• Computational modeling – Predicting how restored coral populations change genetically over time, incorporating reproduction, hybridization, and settlement dynamics.
• Field research across the Caribbean – From Bonaire to the U.S. Virgin Islands to Colombia’s Varadero Reef.
His research aims to advance conservation strategies while empowering Caribbean communities that depend on healthy marine ecosystems.
A paleogenomic approach to reconstruct historical responses of coral reefs to anthropogenic change
Altered juvenile fish communities associated with invasive Halophila stipulacea seagrass habitats in the U.S. Virgin Islands
The effect of recreational SCUBA divers on the structural complexity and benthic assemblage of a Caribbean coral reef
Scientific Leadership
Colin’s leadership philosophy is grounded in collaboration, inclusion, and the belief that scientific excellence must be paired with equitable access. His leadership journey began as an undergraduate, when he co-founded the Marine Biology Student Association at Old Dominion University to address the lack of diversity in marine science. As president, he organized trainings, facilitated scuba certifications, and secured travel grants for students attending national conferences.
Since then, he has taken on roles in coral restoration leadership, project management, science communication, and program development. At Penn State, he has been a key contributor to the Summer Bridge Planning Committee, shaping a program that supports underrepresented students transitioning into doctoral research.
Colin’s work extends beyond academia. Through videos, blogs, social media, and public-facing science communication, he shares both his research and his experiences as a Black marine scientist, offering visibility and representation for future generations.
AZA Coral Reef Tract Rescue Project
The AZA-Florida Reef Tract Rescue Project (AZA-FRTRP) is an AZA member-driven coral rescue and conservation network focused on the rescue, housing and future propagation of Florida corals affected by stony coral tissue loss disease. The AZA-FRTRP is a project within the AZA SAFE (Saving Animals From Extinction) Coral Program.
Experiential Learning & Mentorship
At the core of MarineSci4Life is Colin’s belief that students learn best when they can connect coursework, laboratory skills, and field experiences. His teaching and mentoring draw on:
• Study-abroad instruction in the Dutch Antilles, where he guided students through seagrass beds, mangroves, and coral reefs.
• Leadership in the NSF Summer Bridge to PhD Program, mentoring students from Puerto Rico, Guam, and the U.S. Virgin Islands in microbial ecology and metagenomics.
• Curriculum development at Penn State, where he has contributed to course design, training activities, and program planning.
• Mentoring graduate students in coral microbiome research, guiding them from DNA extractions to sequencing and manuscript preparation.
Colin is committed to supporting students—especially those from underrepresented groups—by cultivating autonomy, confidence, and scientific identity
Fieldwork & Media
Science communication is a central element of Colin’s work. He develops video content, storytelling projects, and public-facing explanations of coral ecology, restoration, and genomics. His media content highlights both the science and the people behind it—students, collaborators, island communities, and fellow researchers.
