Join us for a Lecture at the Lagoon, where you will have the opportunity to hear from a diverse range of environmental experts. These knowledgeable speakers specialize in sharing captivating stories about a variety of fascinating topics, from the octopus population under the Blue Heron Bridge in Riviera Beach to the importance of manatees in our ecosystem. Our free lectures are held at 2:00 p.m. on the third Sunday of each month. Don’t miss this chance to learn and be inspired!
Modern threats to living fossils: The hidden danger facing leatherback sea turtles
Join us for our September lecture series as we explore the invisible, man‑made contaminants threatening leatherback sea turtles. Schelli Linz, a PhD candidate at Florida Atlantic University and a Manatee Master here at Manatee Lagoon, studies contaminant exposure and stress responses in leatherbacks nesting on South Florida’s beaches. These turtles have survived more than 100 million years — even outlasting the dinosaurs! They’re built to handle whatever nature throws at them. But what happens when the danger isn’t natural at all, but created by us?
About the Presenter: Schelli Linz is a sea turtle researcher and PhD candidate studying ecotoxicology and physiology of the world’s largest sea turtle species, the leatherback, which leaves her nocturnal for several months out of the year. Her research focuses on characterizing contaminant exposure and stress response in the leatherback turtles that nest on south Florida’s local beaches. Schelli utilizes tools ranging from molecular analysis to cell culture to identify biomarkers of contaminant exposure.
Speaker:Schelli Linz, Integrative Biology PhD Candidate, Florida Atlantic University
When: Sunday, September 20, 2026
Time: 2:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m.
Where: 6000 N. Flagler Drive, West Palm Beach, FL 33407
Cost: FREE, registration recommended.
LECTURE SERIES ARCHIVE
