Living Galapagos explores balance between man and nature
January 26, 2010
Ever since Charles Darwin published On the Origins of Species 150 years ago, the Galapagos Islands have always been of particular interests to scientist and environmentalist alike. Back then the diversity of species as they evolved in relative isolation formed some of the basis of Darwin’s ground-breaking and controversial scientific hypothesis.
Fast forward a century and a half and a new debate surrounds the famous archipelago and its renowned environmental treasure. Like the rest of the planet, the Galapagos is trying to deal with an ever increasing human population in relationship to a finite amount of resources locally available; it’s a delicate balancing act in an area with a fragile ecosystem.
In order to document and present the challenges the islands face, a website call Living Galapagos has been created with a wealth of information about the current situation in the Galapagos. As a web developer I can say this is one of the more polished projects I have seen on the internet. With rich multimedia content, the site conveys a great feel for what the current situation is in the Galapagos and how things continue to change with the increasing human presence. The problems laid out, including immigration and invasive species, are complex and without easy solutions.
Within the classroom this site could be the starting point for discussion on several subjects ranging from environmental impact analysis to basic biology concepts to social movements for conservation. The ease of navigation and clear presentation makes it readily accessible to both younger and more advanced students. The site can also flawlessly switch between English and Spanish so there are great opportunities to work the content into foreign-language curricula as well.
