by Jennifer Kowalewski

Elizabeth Simpson went to Galapagos Archipelago as a photojournalist but came back thinking about a new career. The Ohio University visual communication major returned from her 10-day class trip to Galapagos Islands with the idea of studying biology, with a focus on conservation and wildlife.

“I love animals and have had a desire to go to the Galapagos since I can remember after hearing about it as a young child,” she says. “Nothing is more of a paradise to me than nature.”

Situated in the Pacific, the Galapagos Archipelago is 600 miles west of Ecuador. It is comprised of thirteen larger islands and numerous smaller islets and rocks. Because of their relative remoteness, the Galapagos islands remained undisturbed for millions of years. The islands presented nature a niche in which unique species evolved over time.

When she saw information regarding the newly instituted Galapagos Islands Natural History Program, she jumped at the opportunity to spend more than a week exploring a few of the islands. Mario Grijalva, Ph.D., OU-COM associate professor of microbiology, began the program as a way for students to see the unique species inhabiting the island chain.

“There are benefits to the students, who get a first-rate class program and experience Galapagos unlike most travelers,” Grijalva says, adding the group heads to non-tourist areas to explore nature.

“The Galapagos Islands are without a doubt one of the most spectacular places on Earth. The islands often been called ‘laboratory of evolution,’ where scientists have been able to study in detail many of the processes that have shaped the face of life on our planet. There are few places in the world where it is possible to find such a variety of species that show so many degrees of evolutionary change in such a restricted area.”

Students spent the 10 days in June island hopping to see the creatures inhabiting the chain in the Pacific Ocean.

When they returned, Grijalva took the daily journals kept by the students, putting them online. The online journals are a way for future Ohio University students to see the experience of the first workshop.

Simpson loved spending her days hiking or snapping photos of the creatures she saw. The group even went snorkeling in the beautiful waters surrounding the islands. Every evening, the group would talk about their day’s adventures.

In one of her journals, Simpson wrote “Isabela is the largest of all the islands that make up the Galapagos. We were fortunate to visit one of its most beautiful locations, Tagus Cove. We were dropped off by pangas (blow-up rafts) on a rocky shore that was active with Brown Pelicans and Blue-footed Boobies searching for food. This was our first look at the famous Blue-footed Booby, and it easily did itself justice. The birds soar above the water before plunging from great heights into the sea to get their meal.”

Grijalva says several islands in the chain were visited, including Espanola and Santa Cruz. Each year, the group will head to different islands to view the species inhabiting them. The Galapagos Islands were made famous by scientist Charles Darwin, where his research helped formulate the theory of evolution and natural selection.

Besides the Galapagos program, Grijalva is member of the Tropical Disease Institute (TDI) and has been taking groups to Ecuador since 1995 to study tropical diseases.

“Instead of just lecturing on malaria, I take them to the home of a person with malaria,” he says.

“The Galapagos program contributes to the sustainability of the research efforts that the Tropical Disease Institute carries out in Ecuador through our infectious disease research laboratory.”

TDI, like the Galapagos Island program, also has a Web site to inform students of what they can expect.

The Galapagos Islands program is open to all students at Ohio University.

Simpson recommends the program.

“Go. It will change your life,” she says. “Going there with Dr. Grijalva was wonderful. The program offers a chance to have a rare learning experience. Now is the time to see the diversity of the Galapagos, which now may be changing forever.”