Collaborating with the Local Community
The mission of Tela Coral is to collaborate with the local community to conserve the unique natural ecosystems of Tela through research, education, funding, and storytelling.
Meet Our Team
Juli Berwald
Founder & Board Member
Juli Berwald, Ph.D. received her doctorate in ocean science for her work on satellite imagery of the oceans. She is now a science writer whose work has been featured in National Geographic, Smithsonian, Texas Monthly, American Scholar, Science, and Nature, among others. Her first book about jellyfish, Spineless, brought her back to the sea and her second book about coral, Life on the Rocks, led her to Tela.
Heather Kuhlken
Founder & Board Member
Heather Kuhlken is the Executive Director of Families in Nature and co-chair of #NatureForAll United States, as a Commissioner for Education and Communication with the IUCN. She is the author of the forthcoming book, Adventures in Ecology: A Guidebook to Inspire Environmental Literacy, Outdoor Exploration, and Nature Connection for All with more than 1,100 hands-on, science-based lessons for people of all ages as well as a nature photographer.
Tiffany T.V. Duong
Founder & Board Member
Tiffany T.V. Duong is a writer, explorer, and inspirational speaker. With degrees from from UCLA and University of Pennsylvania Carey Law School , she is also a trained climate reality leader with Al Gore’s Climate Reality Project. In addition to lecturing at the University of Miami Osher Lifelong Learning Institute and writing for the Keys Weekly Newspaper group, she is part of a prizewinning team that developed a virtual reality game, Found in the Fjords, about Arctic ecosystems and orca whales.
Antal Borcsok &
Alejandrina Thompson
Partner & Collaborator
Antal Borcsok and Alejandrina Thompson were among the first to dive in Tela and recognize the rich ecosystem of the bay. They established the Tela as the first Honduran Marine Protected Area and built the aquarium, Tela Marine, through which thousands of people discover the rare underwater biodiversity just steps from the beach. Tela Marine also serves as co-Administrator of the Tela Bay Marine Protected Area.
Senyacen Ramirez
Partner & Collaborator
Senyacen Ramirez is a biologist working at the Telamarine aquarium to monitor and study the reef. She received her bachelor’s degree from the Universidad Nacional Autonoma de Honduras.
Brynne Rardin
Expedition Media Expert
JD Reinbott
Expedition Media Expert
Joseph Henry
Partner & Collaborator
