In this episode of Talking Environment, host Gevorg Ghazaryan speaks with Dr. Neeti Bathala—Fulbright Specialist, Smithsonian Journeys Expert, and Drexel University professor—about her work in tropical conservation and environmental education.

The conversation highlights Dr. Bathala’s community-based conservation efforts in Belize and Costa Rica, including lionfish population control and partnerships with sea turtle protectors. She also discusses how education can bridge the gap between global environmental science and local realities, and why hope, culture, and collaboration are key to protecting fragile ecosystems.

Tune in to discover how science, students, and communities are coming together to lead sustainability efforts in some of the most vulnerable corners of our planet.