Earthwatch Institute

What starts as just a fun, interesting trip can turn into a life-changing journey. Inspired by a lifelong love of animals, Lisa Webber joined Earthwatch’s Walking with African Wildlife expedition and returned home with a calling she never imagined. 💬 "I had one of those Oprah 'aha!' moments on the trail that I’ve never been happier than I am at this moment. It was literally life-changing. As in, I returned home, ended my 20+ year career in entertainment, went back to school, and earned a Master’s in biology, focusing on African Wildlife Conservation." Lisa has since assisted with wildlife conservation fieldwork in nine African countries, now as a dual-title PhD candidate. Discover the expedition that set Lisa on her incredible journey: ➡️ https://lnkd.in/erDiGEeY

At Enarau Conservancy on the northern edge of Kenya’s Greater Maasai Mara, local leaders and Earthwatch volunteers are transforming a once-degraded landscape. Through habitat restoration, wildlife monitoring, and native tree planting, eroded gullies are healing, wildlife is returning, and the community is thriving. Volunteers play a key role in long-term scientific research that guides conservation planning while supporting sustainable livelihoods for the Maasai community. Every observation, every seedling, and every survey strengthens both ecosystems and people. Discover how local leadership and volunteer science are driving measurable conservation impact: https://bit.ly/3LO4MkQ #Kenya #Travel #Conservation #MaasaiMara

Calling all teachers! 📢 Are you a K–12 classroom teacher in the United States? Join the many educators who have expanded their classrooms through Teach Earth, gaining firsthand research experience that connects science, education, and discovery. Selected teachers will join a team of fellow educators to take part in hands-on research and professional development on an Earthwatch expedition, returning home with renewed passion and transformative lessons to inspire the next generation of environmental leaders. Applications close Monday, January 12, 2026. ➡️ Click here to apply: https://bit.ly/43xXTdc #TeacherFellowship #STEMOpportunities #EducatorOpportunities

We are grateful for our partnership with the National Grid Foundation. Their generous support allows a cohort of Boston Public School teachers to take part in Earthwatch expeditions, engaging in hands-on research they bring back to their classrooms. This year, teachers joined Earthwatch scientists across the globe—from the forests of southeastern Arizona and the Atlantic rainforest of Brazil to the shores and woodlands of Maine. Each expedition focused on a unique conservation challenge: studying elusive forest owls, monitoring wildlife in reforestation projects, and tracking the effects of climate change on diverse ecosystems. Meet this year’s Fellows and explore their stories: ➡️

This month, the final team of Earthwatch volunteers completed our South African Penguins expedition, marking the close of 24 years of dedicated research. Since 2001, volunteers have worked alongside scientists on Robben Island, monitoring nests, tracking chicks, and observing foraging behavior. Their sustained, hands-on efforts created a long-term dataset on African penguins that directly informed South Africa’s recent decision to close fisheries around key breeding areas—a major conservation milestone for a species now listed as Critically Endangered. We are grateful to the research staff, volunteers, and Dr. Richard Sherley for dedicating decades to protecting this species. Their commitment shows how long-term, collaborative science can make a real difference for wildlife. 📸: Fabienne Bollinger Explore 24 years of South African Penguins in the field: https://lnkd.in/efTqa66J

Retirement didn’t slow Judy Wieske down—it gave her a new purpose. Since stepping away from a 37-year career, Judy has traveled the world with Earthwatch, joining 16 expeditions from Namibia to Bali. More than vacations, these hands-on scientific experiences have deepened her connection to the planet and created lasting friendships across the globe. Whether tracking cheetahs in Africa, tagging sharks in Florida, or protecting sea turtles in Costa Rica, Judy’s work alongside scientists makes a real difference—and inspires others, including family members, to join the journey. Read how Earthwatch transformed Judy’s retirement into a meaningful adventure ➡️ https://lnkd.in/gQYBjDYZ #CitizenScience #Retirement #Expedition

In the heart of the Costa Rican rainforest, a decades-long collaboration between Dr. Lee Dyer and Earthwatch has uncovered one of the most alarming discoveries of insect decline in history, while transforming the lives and careers of students, educators, and early-career scientists along the way. With support from Earthwatch donors and thousands of volunteers, this research has advanced our understanding of caterpillars, their predators, and the ecosystems they support, contributing to more than 100 scientific papers and shaping the future of biodiversity science. Read the full story of partnership, mentorship, and lasting scientific impact ➡️ https://lnkd.in/eUSz-Xf3 #ScienceEducation #CitizenScience #STEM #ConservationResearch

What happens when a high school teacher brings his students to the Amazon to conduct scientific research? After participating in our Project Kindle program, Matt Holden gained the skills and support to lead a student expedition to the Peruvian Amazon, with many of his students traveling out of state for the first time. There, they worked alongside scientists, collected field data, and experienced firsthand what it means to do science in one of the most biodiverse regions on the planet. Read the full Q&A to learn how Matt brought authentic research into his teaching and inspired the next generation of environmental leaders ➡️ https://lnkd.in/gwdqEfss #ScienceEducation #STEM #StudentResearch #FieldScience

We are thrilled to celebrate another successful team of EY-Earthwatch Ambassadors. 👏 Thank you, Stanislava, for sharing your experience supporting pollinator research in Costa Rica. Since 2009, EY has partnered with Earthwatch to implement the EY-Earthwatch Ambassadors program — a volunteer program that empowers professionals to contribute to scientific research and conservation efforts worldwide. We are grateful to EY and all EY-Earthwatch Ambassadors for championing science-based solutions and helping protect our planet.

We are thrilled to announce a new phase of marine research in Costa Rica: Floating Habitats: Marine Wildlife in a Costa Rican Fjord. For several years, Earthwatch volunteers have collaborated with scientists in the Golfo Dulce to study marine mammals and highlight the fjord’s critical role as a nursery and feeding ground. This project is now expanding to focus on how “debris rafts”—floating clusters of seagrass, driftwood, and plastic—impact marine habitats and the behavior of dolphins, whales, and sea turtles.  Visit our website to learn more about this expedition and how you can contribute:  https://lnkd.in/eDcaMpkx #MarineConservation #VolunteerTravel #MarineResearch #Expedition