We thought it only right to help Steppes Discovery to promote their Galapagos Photographic Safari with David Plummer with the hope that the trip may produce the 2012 competition winner! We are delighted that Steppes Discovery are donating £50 to GCT with every guest booking on this trip.
To find our more about this trip click here or telephone Steppes Discovery (01285 880980).
]]>
In January 2011, three artists - Gary Baxter, Jemma Pearson and Mary Ellen Taylor - came together to exhibit their Galapagos inspired art, Archipelago Art, to raise awareness of the issues facing this most precious World Heritage Site and funds for GCT's 15 Steps to Help Save Galapagos.
We are delighted to tell you that there is still some art from the exhibition available to purchase and GCT will benefit from a percentage of every sale. Simply click on the link to the artists' catalogue below and contact them to arrange to purchase and delivery of the work that you want - remember to mention GCT when placing your order!
Gary Baxter has been taking photographs ever since he was a boy, turning professional in 2005. Based in the
Jemma Pearson is an established sculptor whose interest in the Galapagos started in 2000 with her bronze statue of
Mary Ellen Taylor's botanical painting interest began in the
Lady Margaret Lecture by Professor Rosemary Grant FRS
Evolution of Darwin's Finches
Professor Rosemary Grant FRS, Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Princeton, will give a lecture on "Evolution of Darwin's Finches: the role of genetics, ecology and behaviour".
"Darwin's visit to the Galapagos Archipelago in 1835 lasted a mere five weeks; yet his observations during that time played a pivotal role in the formation of his theory of Evolution by means of Natural Selection. Since then the particulate basis of inheritance has been discovered and the escalating field of genetics has transformed our understanding of evolution. Much less is understood about the actual method of species formation, how one species splits into two, a fundamental evolutionary feature that is key to the generation of the diversity of organisms we see in the fossil record and around us today. One hundred and thirty-eight years after Darwin's visit to the Galapagos, we (Rosemary and her husband and work colleague, Peter) returned to these islands to begin an investigation into evolution as a process, and extend our understanding into the way species are formed. A long-term study of the genetics, ecology and behaviour of the closely related group of Darwin's finches has given us windows into the steps involved in the speciation process, and allowed us to identify important causal factors. In this talk I will highlight our findings, and show how they can be generalized to other organisms. I will conclude with our most recent and exciting discovery of the formation of a new lineage of finches, which we have followed from its inception for over six generations. Thus, revealing how a new species can be formed in a few decades of contemporary time."
This lecture is in collaboration with the Galapagos Conservation Trust and Christ's College, Cambridge and is in connection to the Charles Darwin and Galapagos Islands Fund.
There are no tickets for this lecture. If you wish to attend, please notify Abigail (abigail@gct.org or 020 7629 5049) and she will add your name to the guest list.
]]>
Bolivar Hall, Ecuadorian milliner and designer Maria Cuji and a number of up-and-coming international designers will present their latest collection in a range of styles from vintage to modern chic. In aid of Ecuadorian charities. Wine and canapes will be served after the show.
£20.00 per person. For tickets email angloecuadorian@gmail.com or send cheque to the Treasurer, Mr Leslie P Simpson, 29 Chantry
Silbermann, GCT's outgoing CEO Toni Darton &
the BBC's David Shukman © A Yokoyama
Royal Geographical Society, Kensington, 6pmGalapagos Day Lecture by the BBC's David Shukman - Pacific in Peril
A massive thank you to everyone who attended this year's Galapagos Day lecture and for helping towards conservation in Galapagos. The BBC's Science & Environment Correspondent David Shukman gave an inspiring talk about some of his assignments in Pacific archipelagos with a poignant reflection on the considerable issue of plastic waste. He urged everyone in the audience to remember that when they throw waste away, away is actually a place - it has to end up somewhere.
Check out the shocking story of plastic pollution on Midway Atoll and the effects on its albatross residents in the video below...
Galapagos Day Lecture by the BBC's David Shukman - Pacific in Peril
After visiting Midway, David spoke about his time in the Arctic and the remote island chain of Tuvalu highlighting the dangers of receding sea ice and sea level rise.
The final stop on the tour of the Pacific was, of course, Galapagos. Visiting in 2009 during Darwin's bicentennary, David became aware of the intense threat of invasive species and also met some interesting scientists working on the Islands.
Galapagos Day Reception © A Yokoyama
The speakers take questions during the lecture
© A Yokoyama
Join the Galapagos Conservation Trust and Journey Latin America on Friday 17 June to take part in a Booby Zumba Class in celebration of Blue-footed Booby Day!
For the first time ever, Booby Zumba will take place on Turnham Green at 1.30pm (for half an hour) with a professional Zumba instructor. Zumba is a popular dance-based workout inspired by Latin dance. All you need to do is bring your blue feet (blue socks, shoes, or using our online template) and friends and colleagues with you to join in the fun!
We look forward to seeing you there.
]]>In 2009 we treated our guests with three wonderful speakers and - not being content with that - this year we were delighted to secure a line up of four! Not only this, but the audience was greeted by our new chairman, Edmund Truell.
The range of speakers offered very different perspectives on Galapagos, with renowned journalist and author Stanley Johnson chairing a lively discussion; The Ambassador of Ecuador of Ecuador in the UK, Ana Alban Mora spoke about the Ecuadorian Government's ongoing commitment to the Islands; Dr Sarah Darwin talked about retracing the footsteps of her great great grandfather around the world in 2009. Having not been to Galapagos for many years she was struck by the human impact and need to engage local people. Finally Dr Gabriel Lopez, executive director of the Charles Darwin Foundation (CDF) spoke to our supporters for the first time since taking on this challenging role and gave an informative update on some of the current issues in the Islands.
In the raffle, Susie Hughes, from London, won first prize of a seven night cruise for two in Galapagos.
GCT was honoured to have been given the original painting that made up this year's Lonesome's Christmas card and an auction of this artwork was launched at the event. This was kindly donated by the extremely talented author/illustrator, Alexis Deacon and is being auctioned online until 1 December.
Galapagos Day was kindly supported for the first time by the Ultimate Travel Company, including the donation of the raffle's prize and International Watch Company who showcased their Galapagos Aquatimer watch. We are extremely grateful to everyone who supported the event and look forward to seeing you all again next year.
This is an academic event that will analyse the breadth and depth of research in Galapagos. A group of Galapagos experts from all over the world will assemble to discuss the future of Galapagos using their area of expertise to inform on some of the issues and the current research work taking place. The symposium will include looking at Galapagos as a living laboratory now, and how it is an example to the rest of the world and how it needs saving even more than ever before.
For more information and to book please visit the The Galapagos Archipelago - a living laboratory website.
For more information please contact us at GCT on 020 7629 5049 or gct@gct.org
]]>The event has now sold out - we apologise for any disappointment this may cause!
During the evening GCT's annual raffle will be drawn, with the star prize, of a trip for two to the islands, donated by Discovery Initiatives. This event will also see the final leg of a very special book, which will also be auction on the night - for more details of the book please visit On the Origin of Species.
Jyll Bradley www.jyllbradley.net is a visual artist who visited Galapagos in 2008 as part of GCT's Gulbenkian www.gulbenkian.org.uk/ Artist's Residency programme, where artists visit Galapagos and are uniquely able to reflect on many aspects of the Islands' dramatic sites - conveying a unique impression of the habitat, engaging with the science and raising issues related to the lives of ordinary people on a threatened planet.
The focus of much of Jyll's work is on plants and during her visit she worked closely with the Solutions for Ecological Restoration coordinator, at the Charles Darwin Foundation.
To book your tickets, please telephone the BRLSI direct on 01225 312084 Tickets are priced at £4, or £2 to BRLSI members & students. For information on other events hosted by the BRLSI, please refer to their website.
]]>
Graham Watkins, Toni Darton, Ben Fogle and Richard Robinson
Around 600 guests spent a wonderful evening
celebrating GCT's Galapagos Day on 24th September at the Royal
Geographical Society. More than £40,000 was raised from the event and
the raffle, with a record-breaking £4,000 taken on the night!
'This is such an important fundraising event in GCT's calendar,' said GCT's Chief Executive, Toni Darton. 'Without the dedicated efforts and contribution of members and friends, we would not be able to support those projects in Galapagos that are crucial to its conservation.'
Guests listened to the challenging exploits of keynote speaker, Ben Fogle. A life-changing trip to Galapagos with his father while he was still a teenager, was the inspiration for his whole career, he told the audience. His adventures since have included a year as a castaway on a remote Hebridean island, rowing across the Atlantic, taking park in the grueling Marathon des Sables in the Sahara and a 100,000 mile journeying through the world's remotest places.
His fellow speaker, Dr Graham Watkins, Executive
Director of the Charles Darwin Foundation gave the audience food for
thought with his talk - Galapagos, Two sides of the Coin - speaking
about the dangers inherent in the indirect effects of the growth of
tourism and the threats posed.
You can read a short synopsis of Dr Watkins's talk. The full list of raffle winners.
]]>