Amber Pitt grew up swimming in New England rivers and lakes alongside freshwater turtles and appreciating their presence.
The Trinity College associate professor of environmental science is now among leading tortoise and turtle researchers globally to be recognized for her expertise by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN).
“Being part of the IUCN is a powerful reminder of the urgent need for effective conservation strategies,” said Pitt. “It is vital that we continue to monitor and evaluate their status to ensure we are doing everything we can to protect these incredible species.”
The IUCN’s Tortoise and Freshwater Turtle Specialist Group plays a key role in evaluating the status of more than 300 species, providing essential science-based recommendations to determine appropriate threat level categories for the species. The evaluations are critical for informing conservation priorities and guiding policy decisions.
At the most recent international IUCN gathering at the Turtle Conservancy’s headquarters in Ojai, California, Pitt presented an assessment of the Northern Map Turtle, a species of special concern in North America.
Turtles face increasing threats from habitat loss, exploitation, pollution, and climate change, she said.
A traveling environmental justice exhibition created by Trinity College students, faculty members, and community partners will be featured in Trinity’s Mather Hall Art Gallery from April 1 to 29, 2026.
The American Academy of Arts and Letters has recognized Associate Professor of English Ethan Rutherford with the Rosenthal Family Foundation Award for Literature for his debut novel, North Sun: Or, the Voyage of the Whaleship Esther.
The Museum of the Old Colony, an art installation by Professor of Fine Arts Pablo Delano, opened March 14, 2026, at the New Britain Museum of American Art.
Professor of Chemistry Michelle Kovarik has been named the recipient of the 2026 J. Calvin Giddings Award for Excellence in Education by the American Chemical Society (ACS) Division of Analytical Chemistry.
