By Steve Vivona
“Every theologian must visit the Vatican once in their lives.
For a biologist the Galapagos Islands is the Vatican,” said Dr.
Christopher Bazinet, Associate Professor, Department of Biological
Sciences. He is accompanying 15 St. John’s students to this
world-famous international heritage site next January, a locale
which has one of the most unique ecologies in the entire world.
About 600 miles west of the Ecuadorian coast, the Galapagos
Islands were explored by Charles Darwin and many of his discoveries
there formed the basis for his theories on evolution. Dr. Bazinet
observed that while the earth is millions of years old the
Galapagos Islands are very young. “While all the other organisms
were establishing their ecologies on the continents there was
nothing on the Galapagos. Only very late in evolution did their
species come about.”
He added that about once every 10,000 years a new species was
introduced to the Galapagos and those new species built their own
ecosystems separate from those on the continents. “One of the most
notable things about it is that man was not there until about four
or five hundred years ago.”
As a biologist Dr. Bazinet is fascinated by the Galapagos and is
very excited about the trip. Along with experienced naturalist
guides (who are native to the area) participants will have the
opportunity for sailing, hiking and snorkeling. The trip is open to
all students regardless of major. “My idea is that I don’t want the
trip to be a specialist experience.”
Dr. Bazinet got the idea for the trip from a colleague at
another University and proposed it as a course for St. John’s. He
also credited Professor Richard Stalter of the Department of
Biological Sciences for providing some of the early inspiration and
impetus for getting the course off the ground. “I wasn’t quite sure
how I was going to do it so I proposed it through (St. John’s
College),” and eventually through the Study Abroad Office.
A first generation college student himself, Dr. Bazinet had not
been out of the country until he went to college. “There’s a level
of empowerment and perspective that this kind of experience gives
people and I’m really interested in more of our students having
this kind of experience. I want St. John’s students to have cool
adventures.”
While the deadline for application has passed, interested
students may still contact Dr. Bazinet at bazinetc@stjohns.edu for
further information.