Coral Restoration Champion Recognized with 2026 Dr. Nancy Foster Habitat Conservation Award

NOAA was thrilled to honor Dr. Kylie Smith with the 2026 Dr. Nancy Foster Habitat Conservation Award at Restore America's Estuaries' Coastal & Estuarine Summit. Kylie is a coral reef ecologist with many years of experience restoring corals in the Florida Keys. Kylie is a co-founder of I.CARE (Islamorada Conservation and Restoration Education), which is dedicated to engaging recreational divers in coral reef restoration.

I.CARE was established in 2019 to bridge the gap between restoration science and community involvement in support of large-scale habitat restoration. Kylie's work at I.CARE balances sustainable recreational use while building conservation stewards among residents and visitors to the Florida Keys. Despite the challenges facing coral reef ecosystems, Kylie remains dedicated to her commitment to rebuilding the coral reefs of the Florida Keys and inspires many others to do the same.

Engaging Students & Communities

Kylie is deeply committed to mentorship, education, and community engagement in marine conservation. During her graduate studies at Clemson University, she mentored more than 40 undergraduate students. She supervised student research projects and guided students from project formation through presenting results at conferences. Years later, this experience inspired her to create an internship program at I.CARE. This program provides paid, hands-on experience in restoration ecology and inspires the next generation of conservationists.

In addition to her student engagement throughout her career, Kylie remains driven to involve community members in the science of coral restoration. She and her organization pave a path for community members to directly contribute to coral conservation. I.CARE has trained more than 5,000 recreational divers in coral restoration techniques and outplanted thousands of reef-building corals throughout the Florida Keys.

Her nominator, Dr. Michael Childress, describes how Kylie has "transformed community members from passive observers of reef decline into active stewards working to restore one of the world's most threatened marine ecosystems." He goes on to say, "Through her leadership, thousands of recreational divers, students, interns, and community members are now active participants in restoring marine ecosystems for future generations."

NOAA commends Kylie on these endeavors and looks forward to what she and her organization will achieve next. Congratulations, Kylie!

About the Award

This award is a collaboration between NOAA and the American Fisheries Society. Winners of the Dr. Nancy Foster Habitat Conservation Award must demonstrate exceptional achievement and dedication to habitat conservation in the coastal, riverine, or marine environment. Kylie joins 26 previous winners of this prestigious award.

Dr. Nancy Foster founded NOAA's Office of Habitat Conservation, Restoration Center, and Chesapeake Bay Office. In her 23 years at NOAA, she created a legacy as a pioneer and visionary in understanding coastal and marine ecosystems and their conservation. NOAA's habitat conservation work spans some of the largest and most valuable ecosystems and supports the nation's fisheries, protected species, and coastal communities.