Dr. Ruth Gates, famed coral reef lesbian scientist, dies at age 56

In the world of 24-hour news battling tragedy, mass shooting or medium-term politics, calm human moments are often lost. This was the case when Dr. Ruth Gates, a brilliant marine scientist at the University of Hawaii and a coral reef advocate, died of brain cancer in Hawaii on October 25 at age 56. His wife, Robin Burton-Gates, was at his side.

Dr. Gates was known for her scientific genius, charm, and brilliant, infectious personality. "To laugh even under the water; it's Ruth, "said Tracy Ainsworth, an intimate friend and coral scientist at James Cook University, at Atlantic Magazine. "She was so thrilled with the reef that she could not contain her joy."

Gates died five months after being diagnosed. "We have constantly laughed, even through his treatments," recalls his wife.

A spokesman for the University of Hawaii told Los Angeles Angles that Gates' passion for sharing new scientific discoveries and conservation of coral reefs had manifested itself in his many public lectures, in the film "Chasing Coral", which has and communicating the urgency of the impacts of climate change on marine ecosystems.

"I've heard hundreds of people, both scientific and non-scientific, express their admiration and appreciation for all that Ruth represented for them and for the world," said Michael Los Bruno, vice-chancellor of research at UH Mānoa. "The vision and passion of Ruth will be missed by all who have been fortunate to have worked with her. Above all, his generous spirit will be missed. Ruth has always been generous with her time and knowledge and we have all been improved accordingly. "

Gates' wife and colleagues pointed out that the setbacks were barely dissuasive for the scientist, starting with her decision to become a marine biologist in elementary school after viewing documentaries by Jacques Cousteau.

"She was told that she was not smart enough, and that she should rather be athletic," Burton-Gates told The Atlantic. She did both.

Gates was director of the Hawaiian Institute of Marine Biology (HIMB), a marine biology laboratory located on the state-owned coconut island in Kāne'ohe Bay.and she founded a karate school, the Coconut Dojo. A black belt of the third degree, she would push her fingers and fingers to the sound of breaking waves. And "when she hit the practice bag, it sounded like a shot," Burton-Gates told The Atlantic.

Born in England, she completed her graduate studies and worked in Jamaica in 1985, on the occasion of the discovery by the community of marine biologists of the rapid death and bleaching of coral reefs in the Caribbean.

"Gates showed that these bleaching episodes were more common in warmer waters – a crucial link that decades of further work would confirm. It was an extremely important discovery, "said Peter Edmunds of California State University Northridge, coral scientist and close friend of Gates, 34.

After obtaining his Ph.D. in marine science and biology in 1990, Gates joined the faculty and research staff at the University of California at Los Angeles (UCLA). Thirteen years laterIn 2003, she joined the University of Hawaii and established her own laboratory. It is here that his most significant discoveries in coral preservation and species regeneration efforts have been made.

"Ruth was not only a brilliant star in coral research, but also an indomitable spirit in every aspect of life," said Los Angeles Blade, Gates' friend, Judy Lemus, Acting Director from HIMB. "Her enthusiasm was contagious and she loved what she did. His loss will be felt deeply in our own community and in the wider research community. "

"Gates was an innovator and tireless advocate of coral reef conservation. Coral reefs around the world have experienced massive mortality due to warmer ocean temperatures, increased acidity, pollution from runoff and waterlogging. other threats. His most recent research was on the creation of "super corals", species of corals naturally present in the ocean and which could be trained to become more resilient in the face of these difficult conditions, "Marcie Grabowski, Outreach Specialist. from the UH School of the University of Hawaii. of science and technology from the ocean and the Earth told the Los Angeles Blade in an email.

Gates had his critics but would also admit mistakes.

"She has always been a disturbance factor," said The Atlantic, researcher and researcher at Oregon State University, Virginia Weis. She suspects that Gates suffered violent reactions because she was a female scientist who did not conform to traditional conceptions of femininity. "The guys wearing Aloha shirts were threatened by her and that did not bother her. She was neither silent nor silent.

"Gates was like a living incarnation of the studied worlds: a reef in human form," wrote Yong, of the Atlantic. "Reefs enrich the oceans by creating spaces in which thousands of diverse species can thrive. Gates nurtured a broad community of researchers by opening doors and making life easier for them. "

"Ruth was the first person with whom I had a candid conversation about what it meant to be a woman in science," said Beth Lenz, one of her students.

"It has allowed me to fully develop my scientific identity," added trans student Shayle Matsuda, "and pushed me to be my authentic self without any excuses."