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Schmidt Ocean Institute
Academic Collaborations

Whether you're a scientist seeking to collaborate , a student aspiring to complete your graduate degree under our guidance, or a university looking to establish a semester abroad program in the Galapagos, the Charles Darwin Foundation is here to provide support.

Carlos Espinosa/CDF
Timekeepers: Lessons from Giant Tortoises

What can giant tortoises teach us about health, science, and hope?
Follow researcher Gislayne Mendoza from her roots in San Cristóbal to the rugged landscapes of Galapagos. Her story unveils surprising virus discoveries, the power of local science, and why protecting these ancient creatures means protecting the delicate balance between wildlife, people, and planet.

Patricia Jaramillo Díaz/CDF
Baltra regenerates: a decade restoring an island in the heart of the archipelago

Baltra Island is coming back to life after more than a decade of restoration. Thanks to over 8,000 native plants introduced by the Charles Darwin Foundation and partners, ecosystems are regenerating naturally, offering new hope for Galápagos conservation.

Paul Mayorga/CDF
Conservation of threatened plant species

More than half of the endemic plant species in Galapagos are currently classified as threatened. The potential loss of these imperiled species not only disrupts ecosystem integrity, but also jeopardizes the survival of iconic native fauna that depend on it. We are updating the IUCN Red List of endangered plant species of Galapagos in order to enable targeted species conservation actions.

M. Dvorak
The 2024 Christmas Bird Count Has Started!

December marks the start of one of the most exciting activities of the year in Galápagos: the Christmas Bird Count. Now in its ninth consecutive year, this event, organized by the Charles Darwin Foundation (CDF) in collaboration with key partners, combines science, community, and fun to celebrate and protect the incredible diversity of birds on our islands.

M. Dvorak
The 2024 Christmas Bird Count Has Started!

December marks the start of one of the most exciting activities of the year in Galápagos: the Christmas Bird Count. Now in its ninth consecutive year, this event, organized by the Charles Darwin Foundation (CDF) in collaboration with key partners, combines science, community, and fun to celebrate and protect the incredible diversity of birds on our islands.

Celebrating the life of Phil van Haarlem

Phil van Haarlem was truly a force of nature. In celebration of his life, and to honour his time with us over the last 10 years, we have asked colleagues and friends to tell us their unique experience with Phil, whom we miss dearly.

Joshua Vela
Restoration of Arid Zones

In Galapagos, 83% of the landmass falls within the arid zone. Restoring plant communities in this zone is challenging and slow, and natural regeneration in severely degraded areas is very limiting. Our scientists work to restore the arid habitat across various islands in the archipelago, notably Baltra Island, which has undergone significant human alteration, and special use sites such as garbage dumps and quarries on inhabited islands.

Joshua Vela
Restoration of Arid Zones

In Galapagos, 83% of the landmass falls within the arid zone. Restoring plant communities in this zone is challenging and slow, and natural regeneration in severely degraded areas is very limiting. Our scientists work to restore the arid habitat across various islands in the archipelago, notably Baltra Island, which has undergone significant human alteration, and special use sites such as garbage dumps and quarries on inhabited islands.