As a conservation geneticist-in-training and PhD student focused on biodiversity and species conservation in Africa, I am eager to join the 2025 Hong Kong Laureate Forum to engage with leading scientists and fellow young researchers in addressing pressing global challenges. My research combines molecular tools and ecological modeling to understand how climate and elevation impact amphibian and reptile distribution in biodiversity hotspots. This work contributes to data-driven conservation strategies and highlights the role of innovative science in protecting species threatened by environmental change.

The Forum offers a rare platform to exchange ideas across disciplines, explore scientific breakthroughs, and gain mentorship from laureates whose work has shaped modern science. I am particularly interested in the interdisciplinary sessions, which align with my goal of integrating genetics, ecology, and technology to develop more effective conservation approaches.

Participating in this forum will deepen my scientific thinking, expand my global network, and enhance my leadership as an emerging African scientist. It will also strengthen my commitment to using science not only for discovery but also for impact—informing policy, empowering communities, and training future conservationists dedicated to preserving life on Earth.

DNA barcoding is a powerful tool for accurately identifying marine turtle species, especially when morphological identification is challenging owing to insufficient clues in the samples available. This study focused on two sea turtle samples that were dead adults washed ashore and babies hatching out from nests, that pose a challenge for morphological identification. They represented two species Olive ridley turtle (Lepidochelys olivacea) and hawksbill turtle (Eretmochelys imbricata), from Turtle Bay, Cilacap, Indonesia. For one sample, morphological identification initially suggested it as green sea turtle (Chelonia mydas), based on traits like a pair of prefrontal scales, brown carapace coloration, and the absence of serrations on the posterior carapace. However, the degraded condition of the specimen and shared juvenile traits between C. mydas and E. imbricata made conclusive identification challenging. Using mtDNA barcoding with the CO1 gene provided more accurate species identification, revealing the sample to be Eretmochelys imbricata with a perfect genetic match in the BLAST search (0% divergence). This result highlights the advantages of molecular approaches when traditional methods fall short. Phylogenetic analysis of L. olivacea and E. imbricata sequences revealed close clustering of sampled sequences with published sequences of samples from Ghana, Australia, and China.