Christopher Doropoulos

Dr. Christopher Doropoulos is a Senior Research Scientist at CSIRO Environment, leading coral reef restoration research through the Sustainable Marine Futures Program. With 15+ years of experience in marine ecology, he focuses on recruitment dynamics and restoration strategies for coral reefs across Australia (Great Barrier Reef, Ningaloo Reef), Palau, and the Maldives.

His research spans

• Climate change impacts on reef ecosystems
• Resilience and recovery of coral communities
• Recruitment ecology
• Population and community dynamics
• Restoration ecology
• Hydrodynamic modeling for coral dispersal

Key projects include EcoRRAP (ecological intelligence for reef restoration), RRAP Moving Corals (larval-based restoration scaling), and RECRUIT (industrial-scale reef recovery). Internationally, he co-leads CORDAP ReefSeed and community-led programs in the Maldives.

Scientific awards:

• Julius Career Award (2020-2024)
• Coral Reef Hero (2021)
• Queensland Young Tall Poppy Award (2017)
• Australian Endeavour Award (2013)
• Virginia Chadwick Award (2013)

He has supervised 9 PhD and 3 Master’s students to completion, mentored Palauan researchers, and advised Maldivian restoration programs. His work integrates ecological modeling (e.g., connectivity studies), field experiments, and technology development for scalable restoration.

Collaborations span Indigenous stakeholders in Australia, Maldivian communities, and international coral reef centers. Current leadership roles include co-chairing Reef Restoration and Adaptation Program subprograms and serving on the QLD Dive Advisory Committee.