News STEM Week Talk: Dr Claire Petros 06.03.2025

With the school gearing up to STEM Week, we were delighted to welcome Dr Claire Petros, a veterinary surgeon and marine conservationist, for an insightful talk on her career in medicine and her vital work protecting sea turtles in the Indian Ocean.

Dr Petros captivated the audience with stories from her career, sharing her journey from studying Biological Sciences at Oxford University to qualifying as a vet at the University of Bristol, before going on to work with sea turtles around the world.

As the Lead Veterinary Surgeon for the Olive Ridley Project (ORP) from 2017 to 2023, Dr Petros played a key role in opening the Maldives’ first marine turtle veterinary clinic, providing care for injured turtles — many of which had become entangled in ghost fishing nets or marine debris. During her talk, she showed powerful images and videos of turtles suffering from these entanglements, highlighting the devastating impact of plastic pollution and discarded fishing gear on marine life.

Dr Petros also spoke about the Olive Ridley Project’s mission to protect sea turtles through rescue, rehabilitation, research, and education. She emphasised the importance of engaging local communities and younger generations in conservation efforts.

Students left the talk inspired, with many eager to learn more about how science and conservation can work together to safeguard our natural world.