Islas Galápagos

2024 Christmas Newsletter and Annual Impact Report

This year, we celebrate 13 years of impactful work in conservation, research, and sustainable development in the Galápagos Islands. In our newsletter and annual impact report, we invite you to explore how we have contributed to preserving this natural heritage through scientific expeditions, innovative digital tools, and health and education programs. Explore the latest advancements, scientific findings, and inspiring stories from 2024 Don’t miss out—join us on our journey toward a more sustainable Galápagos!

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Newsletter de Navidad y reporte de impacto anual 2024

Este año, celebramos 13 años de impacto en la conservación, la investigación y el desarrollo sostenible en las Islas Galápagos. En nuestro newsletter y reporte de impacto anual, te invitamos a explorar cómo hemos contribuido a preservar este patrimonio natural, a través de expediciones científicas, herramientas digitales innovadoras y programas de salud y educación. Descubre los avances más recientes, los hallazgos científicos y las historias inspiradoras de este año.

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Galapagos Day: Inspiring Research and Engagement

UNC Center for Galapagos Studies and the Galapagos Science Center recently hosted its first Galapagos Day on UNC-Chapel Hill’s campus titled Galapagos Day: Building Healthy Ecosystems on a Changing Planet. This event successfully brought together global researchers, students, and staff from UNC-Chapel Hill (UNC), the Universidad San Francisco de Quito (USFQ), NC State University, and the Galapagos Science Center to share about their impactful work in Galapagos and relevant opportunities for collaboration, training, outreach, and student engagement moving forward.

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Pequeños negocios con gran impacto: El rol de las PYMES en la conservación de Galápagos

El artículo explora el papel fundamental que desempeñan las pequeñas y medianas empresas (PYMES) en la preservación ambiental de las Islas Galápagos, un sitio de Patrimonio Mundial UNESCO. Este estudio, basado en entrevistas con empresarios locales, analiza cómo estas PYMES navegan las complejas tensiones entre la necesidad de crecimiento económico y la responsabilidad de conservar un ecosistema frágil y único.

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El Center for Galapagos Studies de la University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill recibe apoyo de Royal Caribbean Group para mejorar programas locales y experiencias estudiantiles

El Center for Galapagos Studies de la University of North Caroline at Chapel Hill (UNC) ha recibido una contribución de $600,000 de Royal Caribbean Group para apoyar iniciativas de investigación y aprendizaje, permitiendo la expansión de proyectos de investigación, programas de desarrollo comunitario y de participación estudiantil. El Center for Galapagos Studies de UNC-Chapel Hill es socia de la Universidad San Francisco de Quito (USFQ) para manejar el Galapagos Science Center (GSC) que es el único centro científico universitario de su tipo en el archipiélago.

El Center for Galapagos Studies de la University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill recibe apoyo de Royal Caribbean Group para mejorar programas locales y experiencias estudiantiles Read More »

UNC Center for Galapagos Studies receives support from Royal Caribbean Group to enhance local programs and student experiences 

The UNC Center for Galapagos Studies has received a $600,000 contribution from Royal Caribbean Group to support research and learning initiatives, enabling the expansion of research projects, community outreach programs and student engagement. The UNC Center for Galapagos Studies partners with the Universidad San Francisco de Quito (USFQ) to operate the Galapagos Science Center, located on San Cristobal Island. It is the only university science facility of its kind in the archipelago. 

UNC Center for Galapagos Studies receives support from Royal Caribbean Group to enhance local programs and student experiences  Read More »

Un paso hacia un futuro ecológico con “Soluciones Sostenibles” para el Galapagos Science Center

En un esfuerzo conjunto para promover la sostenibilidad y la mejora en la gestión del recurso hídrico, Plastigama Wavin, la Coalición por la Seguridad Hídrica del Ecuador, la Universidad San Francisco de Quito (USFQ) con su sede en las Islas Galápagos y el Galapagos Science Center (GSC), ejecutaron en el mes de septiembre el proyecto “Implementación de tecnologías AquaCell 400” cuya utilidad es la cosecha de agua lluvia que atraviesa por un tratamiento que la deja como agua potable y lista para un consumo seguro. 

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In 2022, the Galapagos Science Center (GSC) and the broader UNC & USFQ Galapagos Initiative will celebrate its 10th Anniversary. We are proud to announce the World Summit on Island Sustainability scheduled to be held on June 26–30, 2022 at the Galapagos Science Center and the Community Convention Center on San Cristobal Island.

The content of the World Summit will be distributed globally through social media and results documented through papers published in a book written as part of the Galapagos Book Series by Springer Nature and edited by Steve Walsh (UNC) & Carlos Mena (USFQ) as well as Jill Stewart (UNC) and Juan Pablo Muñoz (GSC/USC). The book will be inclusive and accessible by the broader island community including scientists, managers, residents, tourists, and government and non-government organizations.

While the most obvious goal of organizing the World Summit on Island Sustainability is to celebrate the 10th Anniversary of the GSC and the UNC-USFQ Galapagos Initiative, other goals will be addressed through special opportunities created as part of our operational planning of the World Summit.

For instance, we seek to elevate and highlight the Galapagos in the island conservation discourse, seeking to interact with other island networks in more obvious and conspicuous ways to benefit the Galapagos Islands, the UNC-USFQ Galapagos Initiative, and the world. We will seize the opportunity to further develop the I2N2 – International Islands Network-of-Networks. Further, we wish to highlight and emphasize multiple visions of a sustainable future for the Galapagos Islands and we cannot do this alone. Therefore, engaging the Ecuadorian Ministry of Environment, the Ministry of Tourism, the Government Council of Galapagos, the Galapagos National Park, and local Galapagos authorities, including government and non-government organizations and local citizen groups, is imperative.

The Galapagos Science Center on San Cristobal Island, Galapagos

Borrowing from Hawaii’s and Guam’s Green Growth Program and the Global Island Partnership, we wish to examine existing global programs that emphasize island sustainability and their incorporation into life, policies, and circumstances in the Galapagos Islands. We will also seek to enhance our connections with the institutional members of our International Galapagos Science Consortium and expand the Consortium through the recruitment of other member institutions. We will also work to benefit islands and their local communities by working with citizen groups as well as important NGOs who seek to improve the natural conditions in the Galapagos and diminish the impact of the human dimension on the future of Galapagos’ ecosystems.

Lastly, we will use the World Summit to benefit UNC & USFQ and our constituencies through a strong and vibrant communication plan about the World Summit, creating corporate relationships as sponsors, identifying funding goals through donors, and benefiting our study abroad program for student engagement in the Galapagos Islands. We plan to develop and issue a Galapagos Sustainability Communique after the World Summit that includes the vision and insights of all its participants for a sustainable Galapagos with applicability to global island settings.

We are eager to hear your perspective and have you join us at the World Summit on Island Sustainability!