Suggestions
Karen Eckert, Ph.D.
Professor and Director, Principia College Center for Sustainability
Dr. Karen Eckert is a distinguished conservation biologist and educator with a focus on sea turtle conservation and sustainability. Her career highlights include:
Academic Position
Dr. Eckert serves as a Professor and Director of the Center for Sustainability at Principia College.13 She has held this position since 2012.4
Conservation Work
Dr. Eckert is the founder and executive director of WIDECAST (Wider Caribbean Sea Turtle Conservation Network), a position she has held since 1989.14 WIDECAST is recognized as a Regional Activity Network of the UN Environment Programme in the Wider Caribbean Region.1
Achievements and Recognition
Dr. Eckert's work has been widely recognized in the field of conservation:
- She was named a finalist for the 2023 Indianapolis Prize, often referred to as the "Nobel Prize of Conservation".1
- This was her third nomination for this prestigious award.1
- In 1996, she was awarded a Pew fellowship, which allowed her to transform WIDECAST into a nonprofit organization.2
Impact on Sea Turtle Conservation
Through her leadership of WIDECAST, Dr. Eckert has made significant contributions to sea turtle conservation:
- Established community-based organizations and developed micro-enterprises to support communities that once relied on killing endangered turtles.1
- Wrote legislation and policy related to sea turtle conservation.1
- Empowered national and regional representatives to create sea turtle recovery plans.1
- Her efforts have resulted in over 80% of wider Caribbean nations fully protecting their sea turtles.2
Education
Dr. Eckert holds a BS from Principia College and a PhD from the University of Georgia.2
Dr. Eckert's work demonstrates a commitment to integrating scientific research with policy-making and community engagement to achieve meaningful conservation outcomes.
