Acanthasia

Coral reefs, known as the rainforests of the sea, are home to 25% of earth’s marine species, provide food to over 500 million people in 100 different countries across the world, and have a global economic value of $375 billion per year. Due to rising sea temperatures and increasing carbon dioxide levels in the water, 25% of the world’s coral reefs have been damaged beyond repair. A further 50% of the remaining coral formations are expected to be destroyed by 2030, and nearly every single coral reef in the world will be in danger by 2050. With the hope of motivating engineers to save coral reefs while some are still alive, UFCC aims to highlight the extent of coral destruction and the natural beauty of living coral reefs. To sustain Earth’s coral reefs, scientists rely on coral nurseries to help replenish species and restore reefs. Located 9,082 miles away from the University of Florida, researchers in the Philippines are uniquely utilizing concrete toward this end. Their project, named Acanthasia, consists of a pre-cast concrete substrate designed to shelter growing corals and allow light to reach their surface. The designers of Acanthasia found concrete to be the ideal building material as it is not only strong enough to provide a robust framework capable of resisting ocean conditions, but also conducive to coral growth due to its low acidity and presence of calcium-bicarbonate. Just as concrete has a vital role in the development of infrastructure for humans, it is now essential for restoring and creating coral formations.