Daniel Wangpraseurt, PhD •  Coral Engineer

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I am a

Coral engineer

Daniel Wangpraseurt, PhD

Presented by SUSTAINABLE OCEAN ALLIANCE
MY PATH

How I became a globetrotter, SURFER, and coral engineer.

MAJOR INFLUENCES

  • Traveling the World

    Every time I visited, or moved, to a new country, I’ve been influenced by the culture around me. My love of exploration had a big impact on the type of career I wanted.

  • Thai Coral Reefs

    If it weren’t for the summers I spent snorkeling in the Thai islands and seeing all the incredible corals around me, I would never have been inspired to do the work I do.

  • Self Reflection

    My interests in psychology and books about self development have influenced the way I make choices in life. Learning about myself makes me more prepared to make the decisions that are right for me.

The best science is an extension of what you already love.

My path in science was driven by the things I care about (like the ocean) and the ways I like to spend my time (like collaborating with others and scuba diving). Because of this, I pursued a career that nobody had really tried before yet. Sometimes following your own passions unlocks new possibilities in STEM.

Major Milestones

Studying at James Cook University

This was my first real experience getting to study and work on coral reefs. Being by the Great Barrier Reef and surrounded by some of the world’s leading coral reef scientists was very influential for me.

Completing my PhD

My PhD experience was amazing. I had a really interesting project and I got to live in Sydney, Australia where I had a wonderful community of friends and mentors. It motivated me to continue working in coral reef research as an academic.

Becoming a Dad

More recently, I became a dad to my daughter. This experience is completely life-changing and magical. It also challenges me to learn more about myself and how to prioritize things in my life.

Things I learned

along the way:

  • Having fun can be a career requirement.

    No job is fun 100% of the time, but as I got to know myself and prioritized the type of work I enjoyed, I realized there’s ways to find fun in most things. I try to bring a sense of lightheartedness to my work whenever I can. When I get stressed out or take things too seriously, it often makes them more difficult to accomplish.

  • The people around me make all the difference.

    Despite the fact that I’ve moved a lot, I always put effort into creating a community wherever I go. I’ve made amazing friends and mentors along the way, and I put effort into tying to stay in touch with them. Having strong community support can completely change your experience in STEM.

  • Life is about continual improvement.

    My journey has been a constant evolution, whether it’s in my career, my hobbies, my family, or self-development. Pushing myself to grow is what makes life interesting and challenging, in a good way.

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PHOTOGRAPHER: Nandi Nefertiti • Illustrator: Eira Gemanil

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