Maurie Keppens

My academic journey kicked off in my homeland, Belgium, where I started my Bachelor's in Bio-science Engineering at Ghent University. I continued my educational adventure with a Master's in Bio-science Engineering at the same University, specializing in Land, Water, and Climate. During my Master’s program, I had some incredible educational experiences, including an exchange in Montréal, building a water purification system in a primary school in Uganda during the summer of 2023, and engaging in coral restoration and conservation on a small island in Malaysia. My travels and the associated diving experiences fueled a growing passion for coral reefs and their susceptibility to climate change — an area underexplored in Belgium. Eager for a change of scenery, I decided to switch things up and applied for a master's thesis at the University of Queensland, under the supervision of Peter Mumby.

In my thesis, I delve into the future impact of cyclones on the Great Barrier Reef, adopting a century-long perspective. The aim is to address the question: "What proportion of coral reefs would be expected to never get hit by a cyclone by the end of this century?”. While it is impossible to pinpoint these areas with absolute certainty, the analysis can offer an approximation of the number of coral reefs that might remain unaffected by this particular disturbance. The question will be explored under various climate scenarios, conducting a thorough examination of cyclone vulnerability in the three distinct regions of the GBR — Northern, Central, and Southern. This project offers an ideal chance for me to integrate my engineering skills with my enthusiasm for climate change and coral reefs, serving as a solid foundation for my future research career in these crucial areas!