Call for Abstracts

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The call for abstracts opens on 5 October and closes on 5 November. The call for abstracts is part of the symposium registration form.

Symposium Themes:

  1. Animal Health & Welfare
    ·       Anatomy & Physiology
    ·       “Omics” & Pathology
    ·       Rescue & Rehabilitation
    ·       Veterinary science & Clinical Care

  2. In-water Ecology & Behavior

    ·       Foraging, diet & body condition
    ·       Migration & homing behaviors
    ·       Courtship
    ·       Ecological roles
    ·       Animal interactions & epibionts

  3. Nesting Ecology
    ·       Incubation environment
    ·       Developmental biology & ecology
    ·       Behavior & habitat selection
    ·       Reproductive Success
    ·       Sea finding behavior & dispersal

  4. Population Monitoring & Dynamics
    ·       Long-term monitoring & trends
    ·       Species or population status
    ·       Demography & sex ratios
    ·       Survival probability & population growth rates
    ·       Stocks and management unit definitions, status and designations
    ·       Mixed stock analyses
    ·       Population models

  5. Genetics, genomics & evolutionary trajectories
    ·       Population identification
    ·       Breeding sex ratios
    ·       Genetic diversity
    ·       Genetic connectivity & phylogeography
    ·       Detecting inbreeding & population health
    ·       Adaptation to environmental change

  6. Sea turtle habitat functioning, impacts & management
    ·       Nesting beaches, rehabilitation & beach nourishment
    ·       Seagrass protection & rehabilitation
    ·       Mangroves as developmental areas
    ·       Open-water habitats
    ·       Mesophotic foraging habitats
    ·       Novel habitats & artificial beaches
    ·       Climate change and threats to habitats
    ·       Habitat response models

  7. Threats, Fisheries, and Disturbance
    ·       Fisheries related topics - bycatch, fishing gear & fishing effort,
    management (TEDs)
    ·       Direct take
    ·       Live and dead strandings, causes and networks
    ·       Plastic and other forms of pollution causing mortality
    ·       Non-native predators & alien invasives

  8. Conservation & Management Frameworks, Policy & Conventions
    ·       Legal and legislative support frameworks
    ·       Domestic and International Policy
    ·       Enforcement
    ·       Protected areas, protected area networks
    ·       Areas beyond national jurisdiction

  9. Human Dimensions I: Science and Conservation Communication
    ·       Education
    ·       Outreach
    ·       Advocacy
    ·       Use of Social media

  10. Human Dimensions II. Social, Economic, and Cultural Studies
    ·       Economic assessments, valuations & applications
    ·       Cultural perceptions & values
    ·       Social and/or anthropological studies
    ·       Storytelling, fantasy, folklore & mythology
    ·       Conflict and conflict resolution

  11. Innovation & Technology
    ·       Tracking technologies & development
    ·       Data collection & data sharing platforms
    ·       BRUVs, RUVs, and ROVs
    ·       Aerial & Underwater Drones
    ·       Critter Cam, Body Cameras & Hydrophones
    ·       Dark skies, Sky Cam, and light monitoring technologies
    ·       Artificial Intelligence

Call for Oral Presentations and EPosters

• Each individual, whether listed as the lead author or a co-author, may serve as the presenting author (the name shown in bold on the abstract) for a maximum of
three abstracts. Of these, only one may be presented orally; the second must be presented as a poster; the third a lightning talk.

• Abstracts must be written in English.

• Abstracts may not exceed 500 words. Please note that the submission form includes a separate section for any necessary acknowledgements.

• The submitting author must select the session topic (see descriptions below) that best fits their abstract. If, after reviewing the session topic descriptions, authors
are still unsure, they may select "Unsure" from the list of options.

• The submitting author must indicate their presentation preference by selecting one of the following options: (1) Oral Presentation, (2) ePoster Presentation, (3)
Lightning Talk, or (4) No Presentation Preference.

• If eligible, submitting authors may nominate themselves and their work for the Archie Carr Student Award and/or the Grassroots Conservation Award (see further
information on eligibility requirements for these awards click here).

EPosters:

• Poster sessions will be presented in an electronic format (portrait format), and delegates will not be required to print or bring a physical copy of their poster.

• An ePoster upload link will be provided to accepted ePosters as well as preparation guidelines.

Call for Lightning Talks (New)

This is an opportunity to practise your “elevator pitch.”

Lightning Talks are ideal for raising awareness of a problem, emerging issue, or opportunity; highlighting preliminary findings; proposing a new project and inviting collaborators; or providing an update on a presentation delivered at a previous symposium.

The name of the presenter, the title of the proposed 2-minute presentation, and an abstract of no more than 100 words are required. Limited to 30 spaces only.

The 2-Minute Structured Format:

• 0:00 - 0:20 | The Hook: State the problem or big idea immediately.
• 0:20 - 1:20 | The Core Point: Deliver your single best solution, key data point, or story.
• 1:20 - 2:00 | The Call to Action: Tell the audience exactly what to do next or where to find you.
• If scripted in full, your presentation should be approximately 250 to 300 words (spoken at a normal pace).
• Maximum of one slide (or consider presenting without a slide to keep the audience's attention on you).
• Examples of effective and less effective presentations: Click Here

  • Students have the opportunity to receive voluntary feedback on their presentations from peers and other attendees with relevant expertise. This feedback can help students strengthen their research and presentation skills while supporting professional development across the broader sea turtle community.

    Please note: This activity is separate from both the abstract review process and Archie Carr Student Award judging.

    We encourage attendees with a well-defined area of expertise to volunteer, and students are also welcome to provide feedback as part of a peer-to-peer learning opportunity.

    Each volunteer will be assigned a limited number of student presentations to provide feedback on. Where possible, presentations will be grouped within sessions that volunteers are already planning to attend, minimizing additional time commitments.

    If you would like to receive feedback on your presentation or volunteer to provide feedback to students, please select the relevant checkbox when registering and/or submitting your abstract for the 45th ISTS Symposium.

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