Lets dive into what conservation genetics is and how it can help us combat ecological problems like invasive species! After a brief presentation, participants are welcome to take part in extracting DNA from a strawberry and see how we can use DNA to find out what invasive lionfish are eating.
Erin is a South Florida native who has called Key Largo home since she was 15 and now leads the Florida Keys Wild Bird Center. She holds a B.S. from Florida International University with a focus on education, team management, and biodiversity conservation, and earned her M.S. in biology from West Liberty University. Erin has conducted research on freshwater species and is a published biologist with a passion for wildlife conservation and community engagement. In her current role, she combines science and outreach to protect native and migratory birds across the Florida Keys.
Join us for REEF Fest! October 16-19, 2025 in Key Largo, Florida
The ideal place to experience the excellent service and the famous hospitality of the Filipino people. Anilao is world famous for its rare critters and muck diving. You will encounter colorful, healthy reefs, and a stunning underwater landscape.
Curacao was rated as one of the top 10 diving destinations by Scuba Diving Magazine readers in 2022. This trip offers diving through Ocean Encounters and lodging through LionsDive. Enjoy 5 days of 2 tank morning dives and 6 days of unlimited shore diving!
When diverse experiences are brought together and amplified, they become a movement, a force for change.
José E. Trujillo, Ph.D., is a marine biologist from Ecuador with advanced degrees in marine biology from Chile and a Ph.D. in marine science from New Zealand. His research has explored how kelp forests support egg-laying sharks and how young reef sharks evade predators using their environment and physiology. As a shark behavioral ecologist, his work highlights key factors shaping shark nursery habitats. Now a Postdoctoral Associate at Bonefish & Tarpon Trust, he leads research on shark depredation in the Florida Keys.