International Sea Turtle Symposium

International Sea Turtle Symposium
Charleston, South Carolina
February 2-8, 2019
https://internationalseaturtlesociety.org/

*Students who attend the event over the weekend (Feb. 2-3) can receive training in workshops that focus on various aspects of sea turtle conservation. Thus, it is a great way for students to make contact with experts in the field and also acquire training that will help them begin careers in wildlife biology and protected species management.

The International Sea Turtle Symposium is the premier annual event of global sea turtle conservation.  It brings together about 800 experts from around the world: academic and government researchers, environmental organizations, conservation workers, and also many students and volunteers.  The meeting provides an opportunity to highlight new research, discuss environmental issues, and develop new collaborations.  It is held in a different location each year (Japan in 2018, South America in 2020, Australia in 2021) so it’s not in the U.S. often, let alone in the Carolinas.

This is a great opportunity for students who are interested in careers involving marine science, endangered species, coastal management, etc.  The meeting begins with a weekend of workshops (Feb. 2-3) on special topics relevant to sea turtle conservation.  For those who have classes or schedules that won’t allow them to stay for the entire symposium, it is possible to attend the weekend workshops and still be back at UNC on Monday.  A full list of workshops is at the end of this message.  More information can be found on the symposium website at https://internationalseaturtlesociety.org/

In terms of expenses, there is a student registration rate of $130 for the entire symposium (Feb. 2-8).  There is also a daily rate of $80 for those who will be there for only one day.  Hotel rooms are $145 a night but can house up to four people at no additional cost. Workshops cost $5 for a half day and $10 for a full day. There is no charge for parking at the hotel (Charleston Marriott) and there is a small refrigerator in each hotel room so that restaurant meals can be avoided for those on a tight budget.

Everything you need to know about how to register can be found at https://internationalseaturtlesociety.org/entersymposium/