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.
Academy Award-nominated writer and director Paul Schrader spoke at Trinity College about his filmmaking career and his creative collaborations with a close friend, the late writer Russell Banks.
Trinity College celebrated the International Day of Women and Girls in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) with an event open to both the Trinity and Hartford communities.
Suspended Possibilities is a collection of 17 new paintings by Jenny Wu, visiting assistant professor of fine arts, featured at Jennifer Terzian Gallery in Litchfield from March 7 to April 11, 2026.
The Museum of the Old Colony, an art installation by Professor of Fine Arts Pablo Delano, opens March 14, 2026, at the New Britain Museum of American Art.
