Origin Stories

The inaugural “Origin Stories” session, launched at ISTS in Thailand (2024) and followed by a powerful installment in Accra, Ghana, was an instant favorite. Now, by popular demand, it's back for a third round at the 44th ISTS Symposium!

This session brings together some of the most respected voices in sea turtle research and conservation to share the personal and professional journeys that shaped their paths. Through candid storytelling, speakers will reflect on the pivotal moments, challenges, mentors, and inspirations that led them into this field, and kept them here.

From field epiphanies to career detours, attendees will hear the stories behind the science, gaining perspective on the many ways people find purpose and resilience in conservation. Expect plenty of laughs, meaningful takeaways, and maybe even a few tears.