Simone Montano

Simone Montano is an Associate Professor at the University of Milano-Bicocca and Deputy Director of the MaRHE Center in the Maldives. His research focuses on coral reef ecology, including coral health, emerging symbioses, and habitat restoration in the context of climate change. He teaches in the university’s international Marine Sciences program and has completed over 1,000 scientific dives worldwide.

Breaking the Wall to Protect Monumental Corals: Simone Montano's 2025 Falling Walls Engage Finalist Project is Map the Giants.

Map the Giants is a global citizen science project to locate, study, and protect the world’s largest and oldest coral colonies. Through an open platform, divers, locals, and ocean lovers can submit coral data, which is displayed on an interactive map. These “giant coral ambassadors” help identify resilient corals, support scientific research, and raise global awareness by transforming them into marine monuments for conservation.