- Abel Valdivia
- Senior Research Associate
University of Miami and NOAA-Fisheries
Abel Valdivia was born in Havana City, Cuba and graduated from University of Havana in 2004 with a Master in Marine Biology and Aquaculture. He promptly started working in the same institution as a research scientist and professor of undergraduate courses. His research endeavors involved the coral reef assessment, biology and ecology of sea turtles, and monitoring the human impact on the reef ecosystem around his natal city. He moved to the United States in August 2004 and has undertaken marine science instructional positions at Newfound Harbor Marine Institution and the Bermuda Institution of Ocean Sciences. He also worked as Environmental Consultant since 2005 promoting the conservation and protection of endangered sea turtles due to dredging restoration project around the western coast of Florida. Since 2007 he has served as a research associate for the Cooperative Institute of Marine and Atmospheric Sciences (CIMAS) working with the Benthic Evaluation, Assessment, and Research Unit of the Southeast Fisheries Science Center. Valdivia provides general support in the ongoing projects related to the biology, assessment and conservation of the threatened coral Acropora spp corals and coral restoration. His other duties involve boat operations, equipment maintenance and database management. Valdivia is also a current student of the New York Institute of Photography where he is finishing a Diploma degree in Professional Photography.