Karen's story

NAME: Karen Arthur

LOCATION: Fort Pierce, Florida, USA

BACKGROUND: I am a marine biologist interested in the health of the ocean and particularly human impacts on marine turtles.

1. Which sea turtle symposium did you last go to (when and where)?
The last STS meeting I went to was held in Loreto, Mexico (2008), but I have been to 5 others held in Philadelphia, USA (2001), Miami, Florida (2002), Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia (2003), Crete, Greece (2006) and Myrtle Beach, South Carolina USA (2007).

2. Were you nervous about going, why?

I wasn't nervous about attending the meeting in Loreto, but I was nervous the fist time I went to a sea turtle meeting because I knew very few people and thought that the "experts" would not be interested in my research, but I was completely wrong. The sea turtle community is full of exciting, welcoming and energetic people from many disciplines that realise the only way to move forward in conservation is to work together. Everyone I met was supportive and I have made many friendships and developed collaborations at the successive meetings I have attended.

3. How did you enjoy the experience?

All the sea turtle meetings have been a joy to attend because every time I go I make new friends and learn new things. I also find that each time I attend these meetings I am inspired by all the dedicated folk that work tirelessly to conserve our natural environment and the incredible animals within it.

4. What were the most important/significant things that you gained from attending?

For me the greatest part of attending the sea turtle meetings has been the opportunity to meet so many inspirational people that dedicate their lives to good science and the conservation of endangered marine turtles. These people come from all around the world, from different walks of life with varied experiences to share and every time I leave a meeting I am re-energized by their enthusiasm and dedication.

5. Why are these things significant ?

My hope is that through the sea turtle community we will be able to go back to our respective regions and implement significant change that will bring about a reverse in the global decline of sea turtles and improve the health of the marine environment as a whole. These changes have already begun to occur in a few places and it gives me hope that we can spread these changes across the world.

6. Who would you tell to come and check out a symposium?

Anyone that is interested in understanding and protecting our oceans and the wonderful creatures that live in them!

7. Are you hoping to attend the 2009 symposium in Brisbane, why?

I am looking forward to the 2009 symposium because I know that there are a lot of people working in the Austral-Asian / Pacific region that have been doing fantastic work in sea turtle biology and conservation who have not been able to travel to turtle symposia in the Americas due to distance and cost that might be able to attend in Brisbane. I look forward to meeting them and hearing about their work.