Michael Weisberg (University of Pennsylvania), Deena Weisberg (University of Pennsylvania)
Galapagueños, the full-time residents of the Galápagos Archipelago, are simultaneously the source of the greatest stress on the islands and potentially their most effective protectors. But there is a deep disconnect between their daily lives and the conservation priorities of the National Park. To help address this disconnect we have piloted a community science initiative based on San Cristóbal Island and focused on endangered Galápagos Sea Lions. We argue that despite the real difficulties of conducting science in this manner, community science can be an excellent way to increase trust in the scientific community and the importance of conservation measures.
