2024-08-302024-08-30https://dspace.usj.edu.mo/handle/123456789/5781Karen Araño Tagulao is an Assistant Professor and the Programme Coordinator of the Master of Environment Science and Management at the Institute of Science and Environment. She also serves as the Chair of the USJ Green Committee. Holding a Bachelor's degree in Biology, a Master's degree in Marine Science (Biology), and a PhD in Science (with a dissertation on seagrass ecology), she currently teaches Science and Environmental Science-related modules and supervises students at the Bachelor, Master, and PhD levels. Actively involved in research, Karen has been a Principal Investigator (PI), Co-PI, and team member in several FDCT projects from 2010 to the present. Her research focuses on the ecology and environmental science fields, with a particular emphasis on marine plants such as algae and mangroves. She leads scientific research projects, conducts science promotion and communication activities with local schools on mangrove ecology and DNA technology, and regularly delivers science and environment-related courses to the community. Her primary research interests includes marine ecology, ecophysiology, population genetics of seaweeds and seagrasses, marine natural products biochemistry, ecology of mangroves, marine pollution, ecotoxicology, and science education. Her current research is concentrated on the role of mangroves as a nature-based solution in climate change mitigation and adaptation, as well as plastic pollution entrapment in Macao. She aims to further develop her research line in the area of environmental and marine ecological monitoring in Macao.