On islands surrounded by coral reefs, Rose Huizenga is helping women build the scientific skills and confidence to take a leading role in protecting the ocean.
Rose Huizenga founded Coral Catch, a women-led marine conservation organization in Indonesia. In November 2026, she was recognized as runner-up in the Science Outreach category of the Nature Awards for Inspiring Women in Science.
Opening doors below the surface
Rose established an all-women coral restoration team in Indonesia in 2021. The work grew into a scholarship programme designed for Indonesian women who want to pursue marine conservation careers.
Coral Catch’s nine-week training combines scientific diving, coral identification and monitoring, restoration methods, public speaking, communications and leadership. Participants learn the many practical skills required to help run local environmental projects.
What the programme reports
According to conservation partner PADI AWARE, by the end of 2025 the programme had run eleven scholarship groups and had 44 graduates working in conservation. PADI AWARE also reports more than 5,000 coral fragments planted, over 300 reef structures and 117 local women taught to swim by graduates.
These are reported programme activity figures; planted coral counts do not by themselves establish long-term reef survival or ecological restoration outcomes.
More than coral planting
For Rose, the lasting benefit comes from training people who can keep working in their own communities. Graduates have helped organize education programmes and beach cleanups, while building local networks of women in marine science.
Nature’s 2026 runner-up recognition celebrates that combination of education and environmental leadership. Coral Catch continues to offer training opportunities and invites partners to support scholarships, but NewsPositive’s coverage is independent and does not constitute an endorsement or fundraising appeal.
Sources: Nature’s 2026 awards editorial; Nature awards nominee profile; Coral Catch scholarship programme; PADI AWARE partner impact profile.
Featured reef image is illustrative and does not depict Rose, Coral Catch participants or a specific restoration site.
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