[Music] feet planted on the valve for four and a
feet planted on the valve for four and a
feet planted on the valve for four and a half meter boat the Sun warming my face
half meter boat the Sun warming my face
half meter boat the Sun warming my face the wind blowing through my hair and the
the wind blowing through my hair and the
the wind blowing through my hair and the feel of the rope in my hands as I find
feel of the rope in my hands as I find
feel of the rope in my hands as I find my balance
my balance
my balance I searched the ocean looking for any
I searched the ocean looking for any
I searched the ocean looking for any discolored oblong patches of water that
discolored oblong patches of water that
discolored oblong patches of water that might reveal the location of a grazing
might reveal the location of a grazing
might reveal the location of a grazing sea turtle suddenly I see it a lighter
sea turtle suddenly I see it a lighter
sea turtle suddenly I see it a lighter patch moving over the darker sea grasses
patch moving over the darker sea grasses
patch moving over the darker sea grasses up ahead I shout to the driver and drop
up ahead I shout to the driver and drop
up ahead I shout to the driver and drop to my knees as he launches the boat full
to my knees as he launches the boat full
to my knees as he launches the boat full speed in the direction that I’m pointing
speed in the direction that I’m pointing
speed in the direction that I’m pointing my gaze fixed on that patch that might
my gaze fixed on that patch that might
my gaze fixed on that patch that might be our turtle as we approach I leap up
be our turtle as we approach I leap up
be our turtle as we approach I leap up to full rodeo stance and shout out the
to full rodeo stance and shout out the
to full rodeo stance and shout out the movements of our target to the captain
movements of our target to the captain
movements of our target to the captain left straight on 10 meters oh she’s
left straight on 10 meters oh she’s
left straight on 10 meters oh she’s going right again okay slow slow until I
going right again okay slow slow until I
going right again okay slow slow until I see the right moment as the turtle
see the right moment as the turtle
see the right moment as the turtle crosses the bow I yelled neutral the
crosses the bow I yelled neutral the
crosses the bow I yelled neutral the driver throws the boat out of gear and I
driver throws the boat out of gear and I
driver throws the boat out of gear and I dive into the water I’ve calculated the
dive into the water I’ve calculated the
dive into the water I’ve calculated the turtle’s speed leading it just enough so
turtle’s speed leading it just enough so
turtle’s speed leading it just enough so that I connect with its path and gauge
that I connect with its path and gauge
that I connect with its path and gauge the depth of the water so I don’t body
the depth of the water so I don’t body
the depth of the water so I don’t body slam the turtle into the mud I sliced
slam the turtle into the mud I sliced
slam the turtle into the mud I sliced through the cool water to find the
through the cool water to find the
through the cool water to find the smooth edges of a confused frantic and
smooth edges of a confused frantic and
smooth edges of a confused frantic and now very angry sea turtle as the
now very angry sea turtle as the
now very angry sea turtle as the tug-of-war begins the turtle tries to
tug-of-war begins the turtle tries to
tug-of-war begins the turtle tries to swim deeper despite their lumbering
swim deeper despite their lumbering
swim deeper despite their lumbering appearance on the sand turtles are
appearance on the sand turtles are
appearance on the sand turtles are actually quite graceful in the water and
actually quite graceful in the water and
actually quite graceful in the water and most of all powerful with flailing
most of all powerful with flailing
most of all powerful with flailing flippers I managed to swim the turtle
flippers I managed to swim the turtle
flippers I managed to swim the turtle over two outstretched hands that helped
over two outstretched hands that helped
over two outstretched hands that helped me halt the reptile up onto the boat we
me halt the reptile up onto the boat we
me halt the reptile up onto the boat we collect skin and blood samples for a
collect skin and blood samples for a
collect skin and blood samples for a variety of studies on the genetics
variety of studies on the genetics
variety of studies on the genetics health and diet of sea turtles before
health and diet of sea turtles before
health and diet of sea turtles before releasing it back into the water these
releasing it back into the water these
releasing it back into the water these says ry I love what I do the prospect of
says ry I love what I do the prospect of
says ry I love what I do the prospect of days like these fuel my excitement for
days like these fuel my excitement for
days like these fuel my excitement for research but we can’t always be leaping
research but we can’t always be leaping
research but we can’t always be leaping off the bow of a boat for our research
off the bow of a boat for our research
off the bow of a boat for our research specimens sometimes we need a little
specimens sometimes we need a little
specimens sometimes we need a little extra altitude innovative technologies
extra altitude innovative technologies
extra altitude innovative technologies are providing new perspectives on
are providing new perspectives on
are providing new perspectives on science and life as a sea turtle
science and life as a sea turtle
science and life as a sea turtle biologist I’m building a career on
biologist I’m building a career on
biologist I’m building a career on indulging my drive to find out what’s
indulging my drive to find out what’s
indulging my drive to find out what’s just out of sight and what’s just beyond
just out of sight and what’s just beyond
just out of sight and what’s just beyond our reach for the past several years
our reach for the past several years
our reach for the past several years I’ve been studying a species of sea
I’ve been studying a species of sea
I’ve been studying a species of sea turtle that nests mainly in the western
turtle that nests mainly in the western
turtle that nests mainly in the western Gulf of Mexico recently my passion has
Gulf of Mexico recently my passion has
Gulf of Mexico recently my passion has soared to incredible new heights by
soared to incredible new heights by
soared to incredible new heights by incorporating drone technology that’s
incorporating drone technology that’s
incorporating drone technology that’s providing all new capabilities for our
providing all new capabilities for our
providing all new capabilities for our field research drones are allowing us to
field research drones are allowing us to
field research drones are allowing us to answer questions that we couldn’t answer
answer questions that we couldn’t answer
answer questions that we couldn’t answer before and ask questions that we didn’t
before and ask questions that we didn’t
before and ask questions that we didn’t even think to ask a new tool in our
even think to ask a new tool in our
even think to ask a new tool in our scientist toolbox drones allow us to do
scientist toolbox drones allow us to do
scientist toolbox drones allow us to do things that extend beyond our physical
things that extend beyond our physical
things that extend beyond our physical limitations
limitations
limitations just like submarines take us to the
just like submarines take us to the
just like submarines take us to the depths of the oceans and microscopes and
depths of the oceans and microscopes and
depths of the oceans and microscopes and telescopes allow us to see beyond the
telescopes allow us to see beyond the
telescopes allow us to see beyond the naked eye when using our drones down in
naked eye when using our drones down in
naked eye when using our drones down in Mexico our equipment setup is a little
Mexico our equipment setup is a little
Mexico our equipment setup is a little different than what you might imagine
different than what you might imagine
different than what you might imagine the researcher and the team all huddle
the researcher and the team all huddle
the researcher and the team all huddle underneath the gigantic black bedsheet
underneath the gigantic black bedsheet
underneath the gigantic black bedsheet that blocks out the intensely bright
that blocks out the intensely bright
that blocks out the intensely bright sunlight on the nesting Beach without
sunlight on the nesting Beach without
sunlight on the nesting Beach without that sheet it’s nearly impossible to see
that sheet it’s nearly impossible to see
that sheet it’s nearly impossible to see the tablet screen that we use to operate
the tablet screen that we use to operate
the tablet screen that we use to operate the drone kind of like trying to see
the drone kind of like trying to see
the drone kind of like trying to see your iPhone screen in bright daylight to
your iPhone screen in bright daylight to
your iPhone screen in bright daylight to our surprise the turtles were actually
our surprise the turtles were actually
our surprise the turtles were actually pretty easy to pick out but we soon
pretty easy to pick out but we soon
pretty easy to pick out but we soon realized we could do so much more than
realized we could do so much more than
realized we could do so much more than just count the number of turtles we saw
just count the number of turtles we saw
just count the number of turtles we saw on our flight we could determine
on our flight we could determine
on our flight we could determine species of turtle we were looking at
species of turtle we were looking at
species of turtle we were looking at like the green turtle on your right and
like the green turtle on your right and
like the green turtle on your right and the Kemp’s ridley on your left we could
the Kemp’s ridley on your left we could
the Kemp’s ridley on your left we could even determine gender because in the sea
even determine gender because in the sea
even determine gender because in the sea turtle world yes sighs truly does matter
turtle world yes sighs truly does matter
turtle world yes sighs truly does matter we’ve seen courtship and mating behavior
we’ve seen courtship and mating behavior
we’ve seen courtship and mating behavior that have only infrequently been studied
that have only infrequently been studied
that have only infrequently been studied in the past due to the difficulty in
in the past due to the difficulty in
in the past due to the difficulty in observing and studying these behaviors
observing and studying these behaviors
observing and studying these behaviors out in the open ocean imagine the
out in the open ocean imagine the
out in the open ocean imagine the excitement bubbling from underneath that
excitement bubbling from underneath that
excitement bubbling from underneath that black bedsheet when we realized we were
black bedsheet when we realized we were
black bedsheet when we realized we were actually looking at two turtle heads an
actually looking at two turtle heads an
actually looking at two turtle heads an aerial perspective of one turtle mounted
aerial perspective of one turtle mounted
aerial perspective of one turtle mounted on the other while mating we’ve even
on the other while mating we’ve even
on the other while mating we’ve even seen aspects of courtship behavior that
seen aspects of courtship behavior that
seen aspects of courtship behavior that have never been seen before because they
have never been seen before because they
have never been seen before because they could only be observed from above
could only be observed from above
could only be observed from above looking down through the water we didn’t
looking down through the water we didn’t
looking down through the water we didn’t know they occurred because of our
know they occurred because of our
know they occurred because of our previously limited viewpoint from a boat
previously limited viewpoint from a boat
previously limited viewpoint from a boat or from shore our first flights at the
or from shore our first flights at the
or from shore our first flights at the nesting Beach captivated us by what we
nesting Beach captivated us by what we
nesting Beach captivated us by what we could see into the deeper waters off
could see into the deeper waters off
could see into the deeper waters off shore so what else could be lying just
shore so what else could be lying just
shore so what else could be lying just beyond what we already know if our early
beyond what we already know if our early
beyond what we already know if our early experiences have taught us anything
experiences have taught us anything
experiences have taught us anything there are no limits to where our
there are no limits to where our
there are no limits to where our curiosity can take us next but most
curiosity can take us next but most
curiosity can take us next but most importantly drones are providing this
importantly drones are providing this
importantly drones are providing this novel perspective on new aspects of sea
novel perspective on new aspects of sea
novel perspective on new aspects of sea turtle biology without disturbing the
turtle biology without disturbing the
turtle biology without disturbing the turtles we can be present without our
turtles we can be present without our
turtles we can be present without our physical presence influencing the
physical presence influencing the
physical presence influencing the behavior that we’re seeing but sea
behavior that we’re seeing but sea
behavior that we’re seeing but sea turtle research isn’t the only aspect of
turtle research isn’t the only aspect of
turtle research isn’t the only aspect of biology breathing new life through the
biology breathing new life through the
biology breathing new life through the use of drones drones are now being used
use of drones drones are now being used
use of drones drones are now being used in such novel ways like snot but as in a
in such novel ways like snot but as in a
in such novel ways like snot but as in a robot that collects not from whales
robot that collects not from whales
robot that collects not from whales researchers are using drones to collect
researchers are using drones to collect
researchers are using drones to collect respiratory samples from whales as they
respiratory samples from whales as they
respiratory samples from whales as they come up to breathe where before such
come up to breathe where before such
come up to breathe where before such samples required a boat and a helicopter
samples required a boat and a helicopter
samples required a boat and a helicopter to collect drones can now collect these
to collect drones can now collect these
to collect drones can now collect these samples effortlessly without the whales
samples effortlessly without the whales
samples effortlessly without the whales even knowing that they’re there drones
even knowing that they’re there drones
even knowing that they’re there drones are also helping protect our environment
are also helping protect our environment
are also helping protect our environment being deployed to save sea turtles from
being deployed to save sea turtles from
being deployed to save sea turtles from poachers on Mexico’s Pacific coast these
poachers on Mexico’s Pacific coast these
poachers on Mexico’s Pacific coast these are some of the largest nesting sites
are some of the largest nesting sites
are some of the largest nesting sites for several species of endangered sea
for several species of endangered sea
for several species of endangered sea turtles yet they are also the primary
turtles yet they are also the primary
turtles yet they are also the primary targets for egg poachers who haul giant
targets for egg poachers who haul giant
targets for egg poachers who haul giant sacks of eggs off the beach to sell on
sacks of eggs off the beach to sell on
sacks of eggs off the beach to sell on the black market though exploitation of
the black market though exploitation of
the black market though exploitation of turtle meat and eggs has long been
turtle meat and eggs has long been
turtle meat and eggs has long been banned in Mexico rumors of their
banned in Mexico rumors of their
banned in Mexico rumors of their aphrodisiac properties and demand for
aphrodisiac properties and demand for
aphrodisiac properties and demand for consumption have fueled the fires of
consumption have fueled the fires of
consumption have fueled the fires of poaching activity but authorities are
poaching activity but authorities are
poaching activity but authorities are now using drones to locate and track the
now using drones to locate and track the
now using drones to locate and track the movements of poachers to help save sea
movements of poachers to help save sea
movements of poachers to help save sea turtles from the clutches of the
turtles from the clutches of the
turtles from the clutches of the black-market
black-market
black-market our passion for protecting our
our passion for protecting our
our passion for protecting our environment goes way back to our
environment goes way back to our
environment goes way back to our experiences as children when we’re all
experiences as children when we’re all
experiences as children when we’re all led by that insatiable desire to get our
led by that insatiable desire to get our
led by that insatiable desire to get our hands dirty our feet wet and make lots
hands dirty our feet wet and make lots
hands dirty our feet wet and make lots of mistakes we’ve certainly made our
of mistakes we’ve certainly made our
of mistakes we’ve certainly made our fair share of mistakes in my area of
fair share of mistakes in my area of
fair share of mistakes in my area of research take for example our prize
research take for example our prize
research take for example our prize drone it went out to complete one final
drone it went out to complete one final
drone it went out to complete one final flight plan but never came back to the
flight plan but never came back to the
flight plan but never came back to the home point it’s kind of a critical part
home point it’s kind of a critical part
home point it’s kind of a critical part in a drones flight plan
in a drones flight plan
in a drones flight plan the intelligent batteries didn’t tell us
the intelligent batteries didn’t tell us
the intelligent batteries didn’t tell us that they were drained until way too
that they were drained until way too
that they were drained until way too late the aircraft immediately attempted
late the aircraft immediately attempted
late the aircraft immediately attempted to land announcing in a calm female
to land announcing in a calm female
to land announcing in a calm female voice
voice
voice landing gear lowering
landing gear lowering
landing gear lowering no amount of frantic joystick
no amount of frantic joystick
no amount of frantic joystick maneuvering was able to save the
maneuvering was able to save the
maneuvering was able to save the aircraft from a watery and muddy fate
aircraft from a watery and muddy fate
aircraft from a watery and muddy fate hopefully mistakes aren’t quite as
hopefully mistakes aren’t quite as
hopefully mistakes aren’t quite as drastic as the one we experienced with
drastic as the one we experienced with
drastic as the one we experienced with our first drone adventure though we may
our first drone adventure though we may
our first drone adventure though we may have lost our drone we never lost our
have lost our drone we never lost our
have lost our drone we never lost our passion for using them to explore
passion for using them to explore
passion for using them to explore biology in a whole new way but it is
biology in a whole new way but it is
biology in a whole new way but it is essential to our advancement in
essential to our advancement in
essential to our advancement in knowledge to always return to that
knowledge to always return to that
knowledge to always return to that innate excitement that motivates us
innate excitement that motivates us
innate excitement that motivates us perhaps the reason we are so enticed by
perhaps the reason we are so enticed by
perhaps the reason we are so enticed by drones is that they allow us to
drones is that they allow us to
drones is that they allow us to accomplish the seemingly impossible they
accomplish the seemingly impossible they
accomplish the seemingly impossible they allow us to explore beyond our
allow us to explore beyond our
allow us to explore beyond our limitations while having less of an
limitations while having less of an
limitations while having less of an impact on the animals we study maybe one
impact on the animals we study maybe one
impact on the animals we study maybe one day drones will not only stalk the
day drones will not only stalk the
day drones will not only stalk the turtle from above but could help us take
turtle from above but could help us take
turtle from above but could help us take the samples without ever having to
the samples without ever having to
the samples without ever having to wrestle it onto the boat now I doubt I
wrestle it onto the boat now I doubt I
wrestle it onto the boat now I doubt I will ever lose my thrill at diving off a
will ever lose my thrill at diving off a
will ever lose my thrill at diving off a boat for my research specimens but just
boat for my research specimens but just
boat for my research specimens but just as coming back to the home point is a
as coming back to the home point is a
as coming back to the home point is a vital component of any drones flight
vital component of any drones flight
vital component of any drones flight plan we too have to sometimes change our
plan we too have to sometimes change our
plan we too have to sometimes change our perspectives in life to return to what
perspectives in life to return to what
perspectives in life to return to what motivates us because everybody has a
motivates us because everybody has a
motivates us because everybody has a passion that motivates them to make a
passion that motivates them to make a
passion that motivates them to make a difference in their world drone
difference in their world drone
difference in their world drone technology has revolutionized my
technology has revolutionized my
technology has revolutionized my viewpoint into the world of sea turtles
viewpoint into the world of sea turtles
viewpoint into the world of sea turtles how could a new perspective renew your
how could a new perspective renew your
how could a new perspective renew your sense of enthusiasm for adventure and
sense of enthusiasm for adventure and
sense of enthusiasm for adventure and launch you off the bow of your own boat
launch you off the bow of your own boat
launch you off the bow of your own boat thank you
thank you
thank you [Applause]
”
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