Galapagos

GalapaGo! in the Galápagos Islands

The GalapaGo! Research-based Learning Abroad Program has three main parts: a spring-semester preparatory course, a one-month abroad experience in the Galapagos with host families and global scientists, and a post-trip event, Galapafest!, where students share personal and professional reflections. The program is open to all majors, with scholarships available.

This course is about preparing for a required study-abroad trip to the Galápagos Islands in the summer of 2024. There, students will spend approximately one month assisting faculty with ongoing research projects. To prepare for this immersive research experience, we will read and discuss both the theoretical and experimental background for the projects during the spring semester. In addition, we will use the Galápagos Islands as a model to explore several topics in geology, evolutionary biology, history and conservation. The course will include integrative projects, readings, student-led discussions, films and lectures.

Research

The trip is organized in partnership with the Universidad San Francisco de Quito. USFQ runs the Galápagos Science Center, a research station in Playa Mann on San Cristóbal Island. At the research station, and through the adjacent GAIAS program, you will interact with faculty from USFQ and around the world working on projects in the islands.

Students will rotate through a set of research projects, spending about one week on each. The number and identity of projects to which a student is assigned depends on the trip year, the number of UH students in the program, and individual student interest, ability and preparation during course. Typically, students are assigned to rotate through three sequential projects, however, the ambitious can arrange their schedule to participate in as many as three projects per day. This means that there are many research opportunities for students, some formal and some informal.

Cultural Experience

Students will stay with local families who have been thoroughly vetted and have hosted participants in previous years. Breakfast and dinner will be provided daily by the host family. While fluency in Spanish is not required for the trip, having some proficiency in the language will be helpful when staying with your host family.

Excursions

One weekend day will be reserved for excursions to locations on and around San Cristóbal. These include snorkeling/SCUBA diving at Kicker Rock, hiking and snorkeling/SCUBA at Punta Pitt, and a day trip on San Cristóbal to visit El Junco, Cerro Colorado Giant Tortoise Preserve, and Puerto Chino beach. These trips will allow you to get very close to some of the endemic species and experience pristine landscapes of the islands. Participation in these excursions is non-negotiable and any deviation from this without prior faculty approval will be reflected in your final grade.

The other weekend day is a ‘family day’ where you will travel the islands, experience local cultural events, etc., with your host families. Sunday family time is non-negotiable and any deviation from this without your host family approval will be reflected in your final grade.