‘Over Land, Under Sea’ Photo Exhibit Celebrates 10 Years in the Galápagos
December 3, 2022UNC Global Affairs
An aggregation of Whitetip Reef Sharks (Triaenodon obsesus) in a nearshore inlet of San Cristobal Cristóbal Island. Photo by Lauren Goodman.
Over land, under sea and everywhere in between, the FedEx Global Education Center’s 2022 photo exhibition presents a vibrant snapshot of University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill’s activity in the Galápagos Islands of Ecuador.
Over Land, Under Sea: 10 Years in the Galápagos celebrates the impact of community, research and education across the islands and the 10-year anniversary of UNC-Chapel Hill’s Galapagos Initiative. With more than 30 photos that feature the work of 18 photographers, Over Land, Under Sea illustrates the diverse ecologies and striking landscapes of the Galápagos.
The exhibition was organized by the Office of the Vice Provost for Global Affairs in collaboration with the Center for Galapagos Studies. The Galapagos Initiative, a joint partnership between UNC-Chapel Hill and Universidad San Francisco de Quito (USFQ), aims to advance science and conservation in the Galápagos and to extend a richer, more complete understanding of island ecosystems.
In 2011, UNC-Chapel Hill partnered with USFQ, the leading university in Ecuador, to create the Galapagos Science Center (GSC) on San Cristóbal Island. Over the past 10 years, the GSC has grown into a model of international cooperation in higher education and has provided the infrastructure to integrate research, education and outreach through a seamless transition between classrooms, field work and laboratories. Over Land, Under Sea is a testament to this work.
According to Kelly Weaver, director for external affairs and communications at the Center for Galapagos Studies, these islands “are the ideal place to study the delicate balance between promoting the well-being of human populations and conserving the world’s natural treasures.”
Weaver, whose own photos are on display in the exhibition, is quick to emphasize the importance of local community. “Research and action are most impactful and successful when they are part of a larger community, which is why, over the past 10 years, the GSC has shown a long-term commitment to the people and communities of the Galápagos and to understanding the complex interactions among people and the environment in which they live.”
Each year, dozens of Carolina students travel to the Galápagos, study at the GSC and immerse themselves in the lives and landscapes of Ecuador.
The photographs of 14 students and alumni highlight the dynamic studies and research that takes place on the islands. Francisco Lasso ’21 presents snapshots of his doctoral research on conservation and farming. Jackson Seymore ’20 captures vibrant scenes from across the islands, such as chickens roosting on a bright turquoise Jeep in the highlands of Isla San Cristóbal and the undersea explorations of Papa José, a local diving instructor.
Brynn Garner graduated from UNC-Chapel Hill with a bachelor’s in environmental studies and history in 2021 and a master’s in media and communication in 2022. She has two photographs on display in the exhibition from the time she spent abroad in the Galápagos in 2019. Garner hopes that her photos will one day help inspire future conservationists, and she describes her time studying in the Galápagos as one of the best experiences of her life.
Even as she wrote home to friends and family and kept a journal documenting her experiences, she “knew that words alone could never do the Islands or their inhabitants justice.” Garner said that being in the Galápagos helped her recognize her interest visual storytelling.
“I wrote all the time in the Galápagos and my photos helped bring my stories to life,” she said. “I’ve always wanted to be the planet’s storyteller, and [my training at] Carolina and my time in the Galápagos gave me the tools to do that.”
The exhibition also features photographs by four GSC researchers. Juan Pablo Muñoz-Pérez’s aerial shot of a blue whale off the coast of Fernandina Island tells the story of the GSC’s cutting-edge research. In 2021, a GSC research team became the first to ever successfully tag a blue whale in the Galápagos. Other photographs from the researchers feature local wildlife, spotlight a local coffee farmer’s project to “reforest his island” and take us underwater to consider the feeding rates of the Galápagos blue sea star.
Over Land, Under Sea: 10 Years in the Galápagos is at once an intimate glimpse into the faces and features of the islands in close focus and a celebration of its grandeur on a broader scale. The exhibition is a testament to the impact of UNC’s Galapagos Initiative, a celebration of Carolina students’ global education and a reflection on what more can be achieved in the next 10 years.