Callie Veelenturf, a graduate of the University of Rhode Island’s College of the Environment and Life Sciences, was awarded the first Cocos Island Conservation Scholarship through the Turtle Island Restoration Network. The scholarship is aimed at providing an early-career marine conservationist the chance to participate in one of the Cocos Island Expeditions.
The scholarship gave Veelenturf the opportunity to join a 10-day sea turtle and shark tagging expedition on Cocos Island. The small Cocos Island is approximately 350 miles off the coast of Costa Rica. Veelenturf’s experience featured a boat escort by dolphins and a dive in a deep-sea submersible for more than 2 hours to a depth of 721 feet. This awe-inspiring experience has motivated Veelenturf to continue to be an advocate for ocean conservation and pursue a career conducting research with endangered marine species.
To learn more about this URI alumna’s life-changing experience, read more here.
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