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

News

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 »

Multidecadal underwater surveys reveal declines in marine turtles in the eastern tropical pacific

Publications

A recent study has revealed an alarming decline in marine turtle populations in the Eastern Tropical Pacific. This research, based on over 35,000 dives conducted at Cocos Island, Costa Rica, over a period of 26 years, provides deep insights into the vulnerability of turtles to environmental pressures and predators.

Multidecadal underwater surveys reveal declines in marine turtles in the eastern tropical pacific Read More »

Estudios submarinos de varias décadas revelan la disminución de las tortugas marinas en el pacífico oriental tropical

Publicaciones

Una investigación reciente ha revelado una alarmante disminución en las poblaciones de tortugas marinas en el Pacífico Oriental Tropical. Este estudio, que se basó en más de 35,000 inmersiones realizadas en la Isla del Coco, Costa Rica, durante 26 años, proporciona una visión profunda de la vulnerabilidad de las tortugas frente a las presiones ambientales y los depredadores.

Estudios submarinos de varias décadas revelan la disminución de las tortugas marinas en el pacífico oriental tropical Read More »

“Loberto and Zally: The Galápagos Sea Lions” — A Literary Project for Education and Conservation in Galápagos

News

The launch of the book “Loberto and Zally: The Galápagos Sea Lions” took place on San Cristóbal Island, Galápagos, during a Family Science event organized by the GSC on August 17 of this year. The printed story will reach 200 elementary and middle school students from all educational institutions on the island.

“Loberto and Zally: The Galápagos Sea Lions” — A Literary Project for Education and Conservation in Galápagos Read More »

“Loberto y Zally: Los lobos marinos de Galápagos” un proyecto literario para la educación y conservación en Galápagos

Noticias

El lanzamiento del cuento “Loberto y Zally: Los lobos marinos de Galápagos” se realizó en la Isla San Cristóbal, de Galápagos, durante un evento Ciencia en Familia desarrollado por el GSC, el 17 de agosto del presente año. La historia impresa llegará a 200 estudiantes de nivel Básica Elemental y Media de todas las instituciones educativas de la isla.

“Loberto y Zally: Los lobos marinos de Galápagos” un proyecto literario para la educación y conservación en Galápagos Read More »

Darwin’s expedition revisited to reveal the evolution of plant–microbe interactions on Galapagos

Publications

The future of Scalesia is under threat due to invasive species introduced by human activities. The Scalesia Microbiome Project (SMP), established under the Galapagos Barcode initiative, aims to characterize the microbiome associated with Scalesia species to inform restoration efforts.

Darwin’s expedition revisited to reveal the evolution of plant–microbe interactions on Galapagos Read More »

Darwin returns to the Galápagos

News

A round-the-world endeavor to sustain the legacy of Charles Darwin brings his great-great-granddaughter to the archipelago to visit with Galapagos Science Center researchers. One of the goals of the DARWIN200 project is to connect young, global conservationists to inspiring research projects where they can study a threatened habitat or an animal or plant that Charles Darwin studied during his famous voyage.

Darwin returns to the Galápagos Read More »

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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!