Students and early-career professionals represent the future of sea turtle conservation, yet many face challenges accessing opportunities, building networks and navigating pathways into the field.

This workshop will provide a supportive space to connect with peers and professionals, develop networking, communication and career skills, and explore opportunities in sea turtle research and conservation.

Through short presentations from experienced researchers/professionals, discussions and collaborative activities, participants will identify barriers, discuss emerging conservation challenges, and explore how they can contribute through research, community engagement, advocacy and leadership.

A relaxed, interactive session exploring the technical and material aspects of turtle research and conservation in a fun, social setting. The goal is to break down barriers between the turtle community and complex technologies.

Participants engage with knowledge holders to explore tools such as satellite telemetry, data loggers, accelerometers, gyroscopes, light measurement, modelling, drones, data collection apps, policy, and community engagement.

Small-group rotations through short “stations” provide hands-on learning. The session concludes at onsite gathering points, using a spectrometer at night to measure light and network.

Learn about the latest equipment and techniques being employed by marine turtle specialists at Sea World Foundation.

Modules will cover:

• Prognostic markers – euthanise vs treat
• Health assessments – triage and during rehabilitation
• Sampling techniques
• Imaging – advanced imagery
• Diagnostics – advanced diagnostic techniques
• Emerging threats
• Wound management
• Nutrition
• Husbandry
• Research opportunities
• Release readiness assessments

This workshop will be both theoretical and practical and a unique opportunity for rehabilitation specialists and veterinarians to discuss current protocols and procedures, as a learning opportunity for all participants.

People often collect data year upon year, but it is sometimes not clear why these data are important. We will discuss a range of examples for where long-term data has provided important information. Using experiences of workshop participants, we will then collate case studies from around Australia of where long-term monitoring is occurring.

Among the topics covered will be satellite tracking across years, counting turtles (and nests) across years to assess population trends, measuring the size of turtles across years, sand temperature monitoring and data archiving. We will distil best practice for these different measurements and how they can be used for conservation management.

Marine turtle tagging is commonly practiced globally. Workshop participants will have the opportunity to contribute to the development of an ethical matrix for flipper tagging in turtles as a case study for wildlife tagging generally. Reps from a wide variety of stakeholder groups are encouraged to attend.

We anticipate the outputs will result in a reference tool for practitioners, caretakers and policymakers, and elucidation of the different ethical values that underpin diverse perspectives on this topic. Participation is expected to improve attendee confidence in ethical deliberation and understanding of facts and values relevant to tagging of marine turtles, and of wildlife more broadly. Note – Late and half-day registration possible, to contact michelle.campbell@sydney.edu.au for details.

The workshop will consist of a series of teaching sessions with opportunity for questions and answers from those in attendance. The topics addressed in the lectures will include:

1. Marine turtle embryology and egg management
2. What turtle gonads reveal and how to read their secrets with respect to gender, maturity and breeding history
   • Female
   • Males
   • What happens if you don’t get laid?
   • Case histories
3. Temperature dependent sex determination

This interactive workshop will equip participants with the practical knowledge and skills needed to safely and effectively respond to marine turtle strandings.

Delivered by experienced responders, the session will cover stranding response protocols, species identification, health and body condition assessment, rescue and transport procedures, data collection and collaboration with government agencies, researchers, Traditional Owners and community volunteers.

Through demonstrations and real-world case studies, attendees will gain confidence in supporting coordinated marine turtle conservation efforts.