At just 14 years old, Reyansh Ambani is about to take the stage—and he’s bringing the ocean with him.
When Reyansh speaks at an upcoming TEDx-style conference, the room won’t just hear about coral reefs—they’ll feel them. The glow, the life, the silence, the collapse. His talk, titled “The Silent Collapse Beneath the Waves,” is already generating buzz among educators, marine scientists, and climate-conscious students alike. And for good reason.
A 9th-grade student with a remarkably diverse résumé, Reyansh is more than a speaker—he’s a diver, a doer, and a passionate advocate for marine life. Certified in open water diving, he’s had rare firsthand glimpses of coral ecosystems—experiences that shaped not only his worldview but his mission. “The first time I dove, it felt like I entered a living galaxy,” he says. “But that world is vanishing faster than we realize.”
His speech explores not only the wonder of coral reefs but the urgent threats facing them—from warming oceans to chemical pollution and plastic waste. With captivating storytelling and science-backed research, Reyansh hopes to ignite both awareness and action. “We treat the ocean like a trash bin,” he says. “And the reefs are paying the price.”
And recent news makes his timing more critical than ever. In early 2025, NOAA and Australia’s Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority jointly confirmed what many feared: the Great Barrier Reef has just suffered its worst mass bleaching event on record. Over 60% of the reef experienced severe bleaching due to record-breaking marine heatwaves. For young ocean advocates like Reyansh, it’s a turning point. “It’s not theoretical anymore. It’s happening right now—and it’s a global emergency.”
Reyansh doesn’t just spotlight the problems—he brings hope, too. He’ll introduce innovative solutions like coral gardening and cloud brightening, showing how scientists and citizens alike can take action. He’ll also leave audiences with three creative, doable takeaways to start making a difference today.
But Reyansh’s passion for leadership and impact doesn’t stop at marine life. He has represented his school at conferences like OIS MUN and IYC, earned a top 10 national rank in multiple Olympiads, and was awarded the Gold Scholar Award twice for his outstanding performance in the Science ASSET exam. He’s also a WhiteHat certified developer, a green belt in Tae Kwon Do, and a tech enthusiast who attended advanced programs at Northwestern and Plaksha Universities. His most recent participation in the Harvard Model Congress Student Forum (HMCSF) cemented his commitment to real-world problem-solving and global citizenship.
Yet among his many achievements, it’s the ocean that holds his heart. “The reefs have no voice,” he says. “I want to be one.”
With his TEDx-style debut, Reyansh Ambani isn’t just giving a talk—he’s making a promise: to speak for the sea, inspire others, and fight for the living cities beneath the waves.
And with the state of our oceans today, we need young leaders like him more than ever.
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