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Sunday Gathering: Niki Aktipis “Turtles of the Caribbean: Field Conservation in Perspective”

July 31, 2016 @ 11:00 am - 12:30 pm

Doors open at 10:30 am for coffee and conversation.
Sunday Gathering begins at 11 a.m.
Childcare is provided. Everyone is welcome!
Program ends at 12:30 p.m.

Featured Speaker: Niki Aktipis “Turtles of the Caribbean: Field Conservation in Perspective”
Community Moment: John Bradley
Musical Guest: JJ Cantrell

After five months on the Caribbean coast of Costa Rica, there is a lot to be said for a young conservationist’s first time doing fieldwork – with endangered marine life, no less. Between putting years of formal higher education into practice, attempting to learn a new language, encountering cultural difficulties, and wrangling sometimes unruly tourists, life for Niki at Estación Las Tortugas (“The Turtle Station”) was never dull. In her first talk after returning from Costa Rica she will discuss the importance of marine conservation, with an emphasis on marine turtles, and why it should matter to all of us.

About the speaker:
Niki Aktipis was born in Tampa, Florida, to an American mother and Greek father. At age 6 months, she moved with her mom to Sylvania, Ohio. Niki grew up hanging out with rough-and-tumble boys, preferring Ninja Turtles to Barbies.

She visited her dad the summer before first grade in Zakynthos, Greece. While Zakynthos is mentioned in the Odyssey, Niki was more impressed that Zakynthos is known for having a station operated by ARCHELON, the Sea Turtle Protection Society of Greece at Laganas Bay.

After graduation, Niki attended Bowling Green State University and then transferred to the University of Michigan, where she graduated with a Bachelor of Science in biopsychology.

In 2012, Niki was introduced to Dennis Penaluna, president of the Nottingham Secular Society in the UK.

2013 found her in Alabama as a primate keeper at the Birmingham Zoo. Niki made the trip back to the UK to attend the University of Derby, where she graduated in January 2016 with a Master of Science in conservation biology.

*By participating in this event, you agree to abide by the Oasis Code of Conduct (https://www.kcoasis.org/about-oasis/code-of-conduct/).

Details

Date:
July 31, 2016
Time:
11:00 am - 12:30 pm

Venue

Tony Aguirre Community Center
2050 W Pennway St
Kansas City, MO 64108 United States
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