Coral Crisis: Issues & Response is a series of talks and panels held at NSU's Halmos College of Natural Sciences & Oceanography Oceanographic Campus. This section is introductions and a talk Terry Hughes, PhD. He is has provided leadership in responding to the global coral bleaching events caused by climate change and developed practical solutions that improve the management and governance of marine environments. The international science journal, Nature, has dubbed him “Reef Sentinel”, for the global role he plays in applying multi-disciplinary science to securing reef sustainability. Professor Hughes is an Australian Research Council Laureate Fellow and Director of the ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies.