Simple Idea – Big Ambitions
SORCE began with the simple idea that conservation and science should never be separate, and that education should be accessible to everyone with a passion for the ocean.
Founded in Lombok by a team of marine scientists and educators, SORCE grew out of years of research, community partnerships, and a deep love for coral reefs and coastal ecosystems. We saw the urgent need to restore these fragile environments — but also the equal need to train and inspire people who will carry that work forward.
From our first small-scale coral restoration projects to today’s full field school and adventure centre, SORCE has always stood for collaboration.
We work alongside local fishermen, schools, government agencies, and universities, creating solutions that are both locally rooted and globally relevant.
Our aim
Our aim is bold but clear: a world where thriving marine ecosystems and empowered communities exist side by side.
And our story is just beginning – Because SORCE is more than a field site. It’s a dream that became a family home, a school and a community where people from around the world come together for the ocean. For us, conservation isn’t just a mission — it’s the life we chose, above everything else.
The beginning
SORCE began as the lifelong dream of Kara Majerus, our Managing Director and original founder. Raised in the UK by two field biologists, Kara grew up immersed in science, travel, and a deep love for the natural world.
From childhood, she knew she wanted to create a place where research, conservation, and education would live side by side.
That dream started to take shape in early 2016. After two and a half years of planning, Kara’s husband Mike joined her in turning it into reality. Together, with their five young children, they prepared to move their lives across the world.
In mid-2018, SORCE was registered as a non-profit in the UK, and soon after the family relocated to Lombok to begin the work of building the Indonesian field site.
In April 2019, they were joined by Izy Rigby, who became the third and final director, and just a few months later, in July 2019, the SORCE field site officially opened its doors.
Family and home
From the beginning, SORCE has been built like a family — not just by Kara, Mike, and their children, but by the staff, students, and volunteers who call it home. For us, business isn’t separate from the personal. SORCE is our passion, our work, our family, and our legacy.
It’s the place their children grew up, and a place they hope future generations will inherit as a healthier, thriving ocean world.
Today, Kara and Mike split their time between the UK and Indonesia with their children, while Izy leads operations onsite most of the year. Wherever Kara and Mike are, SORCE remains home.