In 2024, the 42nd Annual Symposium on Sea Turtle Biology and Conservation, hosted each year by the International Sea Turtle Society, will be held in the beautiful country of Thailand for the first time, and in Southeast Asia for only the second time in the symposium’s history. The theme of the symposium is: “All In – All Together; Inspiring the next generations of sea turtle conservationists”, as a call for us to unite as a global community to achieve our overarching goals of ensuring that sea turtles continue to thrive around the globe, and that new generations of sea turtle researchers and conservationists are inspired to continue this ongoing work.

The symposium will be held from 24 - 29 March, 2024 at the Dusit Thani Pattaya Hotel in the vibrant city of Pattaya, along the eastern coast of the Gulf of Thailand. There is more information at www.ists42thailand.org. Dusit Thani reflects an elegant Thai style in accommodations, cuisine, and hospitality, while Pattaya city boasts a rich and inviting cultural heritage, including a multitude of restaurants hosting international cuisine, opportunities to explore important nearby sites of cultural importance, local parks, extensive shopping, and ways to visit the Sattahip Sea Turtle Center that serves as the main focus of sea turtle conservation in Thailand. Both the capital city of Bangkok and the symposium host city of Pattaya offer easy jumping off points for those who wish to explore Thailand as the gateway to Southeast Asia before or after the conference.

We expect more than 600 participants from around the world to attend the Symposium, with special participation from the Indian Ocean, Asia, and Southeast Asia regions, highlighting the exciting research and conservation efforts taking place throughout the Asia-Pacific region as a whole. The first two pre-conference days will focus on regional meetings and a variety of practical workshops for which attendees will want to be present. The student mixer and opening social will feature international food stalls and local entertainment, while the closing banquet will be an elegant formal affair you will not want to miss. Special sessions on technology, fisheries biology, and community conservation (among others), will provide opportunities for students, researchers, government officials, and community members to present their conservation efforts and research findings among an engaging community of peers.