Can These Smiling Turtles Teach Us About Conservation?

I sat down with Dr. Calie Klatt Golba, Curator of Turtle Conservation at the Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum and researcher at the Chicago Academy of Sciences, to explore the extraordinary world of Blanding’s turtles, a species known for its “smiling” face, 95-year lifespan, and crucial role in wetland ecosystems.

Dr. Golba shares what makes these turtles unique, why their populations are declining, and how her team’s conservation efforts are protecting them from habitat loss, road crossings, and climate change. We also dive into what humans can learn from these resilient reptiles: patience, persistence, and the importance of community in science.

This conversation blends storytelling, field biology, and life lessons from the wild, perfect for anyone curious about ecology, conservation, or the human side of science.

Watch the full episode below.