This June, several Johansen Lab researchers and collaborators traveled to Taipan, Taiwan, for the 2025 Joint Conference of the Asian Society of Ichthyologists Annual Meeting and the 12th Indo-Pacific Fish Conference. This international gathering brought together leading experts in fish research from across the globe. Jake Snyder, Jasmine Reighard, and Lisa McManus all participated in the conference for the first time. Snyder presented the first chapter of his PhD thesis, which focuses on building a mechanistic model to predict coral reef and herbivorous fish outcomes in ecosystems affected by land-based pollutants. Reighard presented a talk on her research quantifying the metabolic costs of sediment exposure in coral reef fish using 3D-printed respirometry chambers.

When asked to comment on the importance of international collaboration, all three attendees highlighted the value of sharing knowledge and networking.  
"The most widely-applicable solutions to ocean-related management can occur when many people, from many institutions, collaborate," observes Snyder of the conference. Reighard agrees. "Itʻs a great opportunity to share your research on a global scale and meet the leading experts in your field," she notes. McManus adds that "meeting researchers with expertise in different fields leads to exciting new ideas and projects. It’s also an opportunity to catch up with colleagues that you haven’t seen in a while!"

                                                                                  The Nature Conservancy