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Who We Are

Gui_Gui_IMARCS

Gui Gui
Founder

"My name is Gui Gui, and I'm from one of the Karen tribes. My family and I had to leave Myanmar as the military there is actively hunting and killing the Karen people, even though we are very peaceful.

We escaped to Thailand, where I grew up. Now, I am in Japan, and I'm very happy to have started IMARCS and to be working with my amazing team!

My experience of being forced to flee my homeland is an all-too-common story among the Karen peoples. However, thanks to nearby welcoming countries — and generous support from companies and individuals like you — I was able to not only find peace but also set up an impactful organization dedicated to improving the environment and the lives of Indigenous peoples who need it most."
 

Meet the Team

The IMARCS is made possible through the work of exceptional individuals who bring a diverse range of skill sets and perspectives to our mission!

Gui Paphorn

Treasurer & Head of Indigenous Outreach

Hello, I'm Gui, a member of the Karen tribe! The Karen people are a tribal people that inhabit what is now Myanmar, Thailand, and Laos, but unfortunately we are stateless and most of us can't obtain citizenship, get a passport, or travel internationally. Thankfully, the Thai government was kind enough to grant me citizenship which gives me the freedom to participate in such a unique organization as IMARCS!

As an indigenous people, we greatly depend on the natural environment for our day-to-day life, whether that's ocean, land, or a combination of the two, so I'm very happy to be working with an organization that is taking a holistic approach to conservation.

I hold a degree in business from Ratchaburi University.

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Jordan-IMARCS

Jordan Flagel

Vice President & Lead Environmental Scientist
I'm Jordan - I don't like writing about myself, but I do like writing about sustainable development, blue carbon solutions, and marine science. I am fortunate to be the Lead Environmental Scientist for IMARCS, and in addition to writing science-based content, I'm working hard on quantifying our carbon removal activities and constantly trying to maximize environmental benefits through our mariculture practices.

A little over a decade ago I received a Master of Science degree in Sustainable Resource Management from UM, following a Master of Science in Integrated Science and Technology from JMU - and since then I have been working in reefs, mangroves, tropical forests (basically all the best places to be) for NGOs and think tanks in Belize, Guyana, and Canada, including the United Nations Green Corps, Ecology Project International, the Canada West Foundation, and the International Institute for Sustainable Development.

Alongside my work with IMARCS, I am also a Fellow with the Energy Futures Lab in Canada and I run Treebridge Conservation, an organization that conserves tropical rainforests and mangroves for their carbon storage and other environmental benefits. Once upon a time, I was also a fairly serious athlete, but now my free time is spent enjoying hammocks, free diving, trees, and family.
Dr. Juan Moles - Research Advisor

Dr. Juan Moles

Research Advisor
I'm a marine biologist passionate about uncovering the hidden diversity of ocean life, with a particular focus on molluscs. My research combines molecular genetics, morphology, and bioinformatics to better understand the evolution and ecology of marine invertebrates—especially gastropods like sea slugs and snails.Over the past eight years, I’ve contributed to the discovery and description of dozens of new species, as well as higher taxonomic groups across deep-sea, coastal, and pelagic habitats. I apply cutting-edge phylogenomic methods, such as target enrichment and high-throughput sequencing, to resolve evolutionary relationships and document cryptic biodiversity.My work is strongly tied to conservation. I contribute data to global platforms like WoRMS, MolluscaBase, GenBank, and BOLD Systems, supporting international biodiversity goals. I've participated in and led scientific expeditions across the globe, from Antarctica and the Caribbean to the Mediterranean and the Indian Ocean.Beyond research, I’m dedicated to teaching and mentorship. I’ve guided numerous undergraduate and graduate students and currently supervise PhD research. I also teach invertebrate zoology and evolutionary biology at institutions including Harvard University, LMU Munich, and the University of Barcelona.As an active member of the scientific community, I review for many international journals, organize conferences, and regularly present at global symposia. My goal is to foster collaboration, train the next generation of scientists, and contribute to a better understanding of marine biodiversity in a rapidly changing world.
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Dr. Vanessa Arranz

Lead Researcher
I'm a marine molecular ecologist whose work focuses on how biodiversity in benthic ecosystems is generated, maintained, and eroded under rapid environmental change. Trained in New Zealand (PhD, University of Auckland, 2018; postdoc in the Marine Evolutionary Ecology Group at Massey University), I apply comparative phylogeography, population genomics, whole-genome sequencing, and DNA/RNA metabarcoding to questions of connectivity, monitoring, and adaptation. Currently a Marie Skłodowska-Curie Fellow at the University of Barcelona (DIVERGEN) and PI of TROIA, I'm leading experimental design, field expeditions, molecular analysis, and dissemination on adaptation to environmental changes; technology transfer outputs include the MARES software for custom reference databases and DNA metabarcoding protocols for species detection, including eukaryotes, microbiome and symbionts communities. I have contributed to 12 funded projects (4 ongoing) and authored 17 peer-reviewed papers (8 first-author; all Q1), plus 2 government reports; conference record includes 23 national/international presentations (14 as first author) and 4 invited seminars. Past editorial and service roles include Associate Editor for Animal Biodiversity and Conservation and reviewer for journals such as Molecular Ecology and Journal of Biogeography, as well as teaching and mentoring totalling 1,026 hours across course coordination and lecturing in Molecular Ecology, Invertebrate Zoology, and Marine Ecology. Lastly, my academic supervision includes 1 PhD students, 3 MSc students, and 7 undergraduate students, with participation on 1 PhD and 1 MSc committee.
Lark-IMARCs

Lark Aakarshan

Lead Designer
I have been an entrepreneur and creative director, helping and working on diversified projects for the last 11 years.

After graduating from Nottingham Trent University and working with Ogily in 2013, I co-founded The Prototypes, an award-winning strategy and design practice that helps leaders and their organizations explore, learn, and grow.

My clients include various Fortune 500 companies (Samsung, BBC, ITC, Orient, Cremica, DLF, Maersk) and organizations, including the United Nations, the Estonian Embassy Council, the American Embassy School and some of the world's most progressive start-ups.

I have served as a board member and advisor to various organizations, including The Prototypes, Label KISS, Notesgen, Pepperscript, TAA and SWELL.

I was also serving as a visiting lecturer at Pearl Academy of Design, teaching Product Interface Design and Applied Empathy curriculum.

In my private time, I like practising design conjuring, mentalism, developing psychological, spiritual and motivational content and writing on how to bring these powerful traditions into modern life and the workplace.

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Tom Birlo

Animation & Graphic Design
My name is Tom Birlo, I am an artist. I never settled in one place, for the majority of my life traveling around the world while studying painting, and meeting different cultures while my parents were doing their mission of historical objects restoration around Europe. After studying fine art and philosophy, I dedicated myself to learning the Asian culture, and now happy to use my skills and knowledge in order to help popularize the great will of saving our nature.
Eddie

Gary Edwards

Photographer & Videographer
Hello! I'm Gary Edwards, also known as Eddie. I started my photography career at the Defense Information School in 2004, working in various disciplines such as studio photography, journalism, crime scene documentation, and historical preservation.

Driven by a passion for mastery, I pursued a degree in Communications with a focus on film, photography, and journalism. This led me to earn a Master of Fine Arts in Photography, specializing in Fine Art.

Over the past 11 years, I've been fortunate to travel extensively across Asia, Europe, and Oceania. These experiences have broadened my perspectives and given me inspiration to pursue art and the artist's role in our changing society. When I'm not creating, I find peace in nature and enjoy sharing simple moments with others.

What We’re Doing

Utilizing mariculture and marine science for carbon sequestration and reef restoration in saltwater tanks, research labs, and reef environments around the world.

World of IMARCS

News & Perspectives from IMARCS