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Discovering Galapagos

Discovering Galapagos educational game
© Sarah Langford

Overview

The Discovering Galapagos educational programme aims to engage and educate today’s children in the UK and in Ecuador through our bilingual websites full of learning resources. Working with project partners in Galapagos, we offer an insight into life on the Islands through a range of exciting lessons and activities.

School children in Galapagos
© Sarah Langford

The problem

We believe that today’s school students are tomorrow’s conservation ambassadors and the future stewards of our planet. By deepening their understanding of the natural world and the conservation challenges that we face in the future, we hope to inspire and engage students in the sustainable development of Galapagos and the wider world through our innovative Discovering Galapagos programme. 

In Galapagos, rapid population growth is placing additional strains on a delicate ecosystem that is also at risk from increased tourism and associated threats such as invasive species, marine pollution and biodiversity loss. The issues faced in the microcosm of Galapagos are of global relevance and the communication of these problems and their potential solutions could influence conservation management strategies in other areas of the world.

Shark Day event in Galapagos
© Max Hirschfeld

How we’re tackling it

Discovering Galapagos is an educational resource for use in the UK, Ecuador and Galapagos. It is an ongoing project with a modular planning approach enabling the addition of further content depending on available resources. 

With strong links to the UK science and geography curricula, Discovering Galapagos is ideal as a highly relevant and reliable resource for use in schools across KS2, KS3, KS4 and beyond. While internet infrastructure in Galapagos is an obstacle, resources can now be accessed through an intranet platform. The resource consists of two websites – one adapted for the UK audience with easy to use, downloadable curriculum-linked resources and one adapted for delivery in the Galapagos Islands and mainland Ecuador. From pirates to plate tectonics and colonisation to evolution of species and their conservation, Discovering Galapagos will bring the Islands to life in your classroom.

Educational memory game for children in Galapagos
© Galapagos Science Center

Project goals

1.  To build a better understanding of the forces that formed, shaped and threaten Galapagos. 
2.  To encourage a greater engagement in the conservation of the natural world through Citizen Science.
3To inspire an increased awareness of the challenges and opportunities in sustainable development.  
4.  To form and bolster cultural and education connections between the UK and Ecuador. 
5.  To develop understanding of  the wider issues that humanity faces through the lens of Galapagos.

Medium ground finch
© Rick Austin

Project updates

10th Mar 2022
Citizen science Education and outreach

British Science Week 2022

It's British Science Week - a celebration of science, technology, engineering and maths with the theme 'Growth'.
Read more
2nd Jul 2021
Education and outreach

Education and Outreach in the UK

Our Education Writer and primary school teacher, Sarah Langford, was approached by the Charles Darwin Primary school in Cheshire to help with a whole school project on Charles Darwin and the voyage of the Beagle. They were keen to find out more about...
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25th Feb 2021
Education and outreach

British Science Week 2021 Resources 

The theme this year for British Science Week (5 – 14 March 2021) is Innovating for the future, and what better place is there to explore the future of innovation than the Galapagos Islands?
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16th Dec 2020
News

2020 Successes!

As we approach the end of 2020, we want to say thank you so much for all your support in what has been an extremely difficult year.
Read more

How you can help

With your help, we can safeguard the future of these Enchanted Isles.

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