Indonesia is estimated to host one-eighth of the world’s coral reefs, covering more than 60,000 square kilometres of marine areas. These reefs are home to a myriad of aquatic species including seaweed. Over the last few years, seaweed has become an important commodity for Indonesia. Seaweed is used as a raw material for at least 500 different products ranging from shampoo to textiles and lubricant for oil drilling equipment. Indonesia became the world’s largest producer of seaweed in 2008, and is expected to have an annual seaweed harvest of 10 million tons by 2014. The problem, however, is that coral reef ecosystems, as the primary source of seaweed, are very sensitive to climate change. An increase by 2-3 degrees Celsius in ocean temperatures in 1998 resulted in the destruction of more than 90 percent of coral reefs in some parts of Indonesia. In 2002, the World Resource Institute reported that only 6.5 percent of Indonesia’s coral reefs remained healthy. For Nugroho, healthier coral reefs not only mean bigger seaweed harvests but also a bigger catch for fishermen in Madura. This project would also help revitalize marine areas such as Padike, Ponju Beach and the Talango Sumenep Islands for ecotourism and as research centres. Nugroho’s blue light invention could also replace the controversial “biorock” reef conservation system that uses electricity to promote coral growth.