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.”
- 30 -
News for
the week of Nov 7 –
Nov 12
