Senior Project
Galapagos 2015
Application - DUE DATE 12/1
The Galápagos Islands are a group of 13 islands and many islets surrounding the equator and located in the Eastern Pacific Ocean 600 miles west of mainland Ecuador. The islands and surrounding waters are a part of the Galápagos National Park, which belong to Ecuador. Relatively young, in geological terms, the islands are the result of volcanic eruptions and land uplifts.
Due to its location in the middle of the ocean, the Galápagos are home to some of the world’s most fascinating endemic animal and plant species, as well as species that migrated to the islands that have adapted to this unique environment. Among the most legendary animal species we will find are marine iguanas and Galápagos land iguanas, giant tortoises, sea lion colonies, blue-footed boobies and penguins. Within the rich marine reserve we can find Galápagos sharks, sea turtles, and manta ra s, to name a few. This enchanted place inspired Darwin s research on the origin of species, which introduced the theory of evolution by natural selection.
The Galápagos Islands were declared an UNESCO World Heritage site in 2007 and soon became a hotbed for tourism. Some of the islands’ main concerns are introduced species, importation of new seeds, viruses and insects, management of human waste and the islands’ long-term sustainability. As these issues, coupled with rapid growth in tourism and the human population, threaten to wipe out native plant species and bring animal populations to extinction, conservation efforts are now in everyone’s hands.
We have an application process for this trip because we anticipate that it will be oversubscribed. The quality of your responses to the following questions and how well you follow the directions and comply with the due dates all play a role in the selection process.
For a complete application, you must email to request a link to the online application. The approximate cost for this project is $3900.
Financial Aid is available. Concurrent with the submission of this application, students must write a brief note directly to Mr. Koskores explaining why this trip is important to them.
Please contact Ms. King, Mr. Donovan, or Ms. Lukens with any questions.