NEWS & EVENTS
LATEST NEWS

Healthy Families Study
Over the past two years, we have been conducting the Healthy Families Study in San Cristobal in collaboration with USFQ and funded by the National Institutes of health. In this project, we examine how the water and food environments of the Galapagos impact human health.

Grass Genomes X Environments: A hypothesis/discovery-based approach connecting genome with the phenome of plant habit and behavior in natural settings
We characterize the genomes of a phenotypically diverse, yet monophyletic, set of grasses from Ecuador.

“Steve Walsh NASA Grant on Galapagos Islands”
NASA Grant on Global Islands
• Stephen J. Walsh, Richard E. Bilsborrow, Laura Brewington, Yang Shao, Hernando Mattei, Francisco Laso, Phil Page, Brian Frizzelle (2017-2020), Synthesis of Drivers, Patterns, and Trajectories of LCLUC in Island Ecosystems, National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA).

UNC Galapagos Research Retreats 2018-2019
The first Galapagos Research Retreat was held at the Carolina Inn during fall 2018. Carlos Mena, Co-Director of the Galapagos Science Center, accompanied the UNC Galapagos Leadership Team to further engage and recruit UNC scientists to the Galapagos Initiative.
SCIENTIFIC ARTICLES

The time is now to tackle climate change
Historically, the Galapagos Islands have been used for studies in a variety offields. However, when we talk about climate change and its repercussions on ecosystems, population, and infrastructure of the islands, little is known. This research confirms that knowing the different trends of climate change is of utmost importance.

Declines and recovery in endangered Galapagos pinnipeds during the El Niño Event
Our researchers Diego Páez- Rosas and Majorie Riofrío with Adrian Marchetti and Harvey Seim researchers from UNC-Chapel Hill, and Eduardo Espinosa and Jorge Torres from the Galapagos National Park Directorate, presented their work called “Declines and recovery in endangered Galapagos pinnipeds during the El Niño Event”

Microbiological studies detect Mycoplasma in Galapagos sea lions
A few days ago Galapagos Science Center (GSC) researchers Soledad Sarzosa and Diego Páez-Rosas, together with several renowned researchers, published their work called “Appearance of mycoplasmas in Galapagos sea lions (Zalophus wollebaeki) and its association with other respiratory pathogens.”

Exploring prenatal stress and its influence on maternal placental physiology and infant development in Galapagos
This paper looked at 24 mothers and infants in Galapagos and highlights how prenatal stress influences maternal placental physiology and infant development. To our knowledge, this is one of the first studies of this kind.
EVENTS
6TH GALAPAGOS RESEARCH AND CONSERVATION SYMPOSIUM
The 6th Galápagos Research and Conservation Symposium took place on Monday, July 15 and Tuesday, July 16, 2024 at the Charles Darwin Convention Center on San Cristóbal, Galápagos. This important multidisciplinary event was organized by the Galapagos Science Center, with the sponsorship of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and the Universidad San Francisco de Quito with the endorsement of the Galapagos National Park.
5TH GALAPAGOS RESEARCH AND CONSERVATION SYMPOSIUM
Puerto Baquerizo Moreno, on San Cristóbal Island, will host the 5th Galapagos Research and Conservation Symposium. This significant multidisciplinary event will feature scientific presentations and community-focused talks, showcasing research and initiatives related to conservation, environmental change, biodiversity and oceans, health, and community initiatives.
World Summit on Island Sustainability
In 2022, the Galapagos Science Center (GSC) and the broader UNC & USFQ Galapagos Initiative celebrated its 10th Anniversary. The GSC hosted the World Summit on Island Sustainability on June 26–30, 2022 at the Galapagos Science Center and the Community Convention Center on San Cristobal Island.
Read our Epub Magazine 2024 Edition
Read our Epub Magazine 2023 Edition
Read our Epub Magazine 2022 Edition