Report Date: 2019-08-13

On 7 August 2019, Professor Haitao Shi of the School of Life Sciences at Hainan Normal University was awarded the 14th Behler Turtle Conservation Award in Tucson, Arizona, USA. Professor Shi is one of China's foremost turtle ecologists and conservationists, and has made many breakthroughs in the conservation and educational outreach of China's endangered turtles, including the study and conservation of species that are endangered or near extinction in the wild. Professor Shi's focus is not only on the ecology and conservation of turtles in China, but also on ecological research and environmental advocacy around the world. Professor Shi founded the first turtle research team in China, which now has more than 50 members, including PhDs, Masters and undergraduate students. Under Professor Shi's leadership, these scholars and students will become the backbone of future turtle research and conservation in China. His current ecological and conservation biology research outputs already include one-third of the total number of species of terrestrial and freshwater turtles distributed in China. Professor Shi is a worthy recipient of the Baylor Lifetime Achievement Award for Turtle Conservation.

Prof Shi Haitao (third from left) of Hainan Normal University won the 14th Baylor Lifetime Achievement Award for Turtle Conservation

(Photo by Bilibili)

Attachment: Interview link：https://www.bilibili.com/read/cv3439666/