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Naturalists
Naturalists
More than just nature guides, our naturalists are engaging storytellers, each with their own rich experiences and fascinating tales from the field. They are as different as their specialties—which range from geology to zoology—and their knowledge about the natural world runs wide and deep. And while they are schooled in science, they have a knack for describing species and natural phenomena in relatable ways, whether explaining the behavior of a brown bear to an elementary school student or describing the physics of glacier formation to a Ph.D. holder. They know their destination inside and out and, often, they call it home.
Our naturalists are also inspiring travel companions who participate fully in the expedition, leading excursions and also joining guests at meals or in the lounge over drinks. Each team is made of naturalists with a range of specialties, so you can set out with a botanist on a morning hike and then take an afternoon Zodiac ride with a marine biologist. Or if a naturalist shares a particular passion of yours—say birding or geology—you can choose to join the excursions they lead. Our guests have been known to book another trip just to travel with a particular naturalist again.
More than just nature guides, our naturalists are engaging storytellers, each with their own rich experiences and fascinating tales from the field. They are as different as their specialties—which range from geology to zoology—and their knowledge about the natural world runs wide and deep. And while they are schooled in science, they have a knack for describing species and natural phenomena in relatable ways, whether explaining the behavior of a brown bear to an elementary school student or describing the physics of glacier formation to a Ph.D. holder. They know their destination inside and out and, often, they call it home....
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Expedition staff are subject to change.
Meet our Naturalists
Naturalist
John Pailthorpe
John spent the early years of his life in London, before an inspirational teacher took him to the highlands of Scotland on a school adventure trip. From then on the natural world has been his passion. After teacher training in Bangor, North Wales, John began a thirty-year career in outdoor education centres and schools, teaching and leading children and adults in such pursuits as mountaineering, rock climbing, kayaking, and sailing throughout the U.K. and Europe. During this time John took time out to be part of six polar scientific expeditions, as a field assistant/guide. Two of these were with the British Antarctic Survey; the first a two-month field expedition to the Eklund Islands on the Antarctic Peninsula; the second, eight months as part of a king penguin and elephant seal study on South Georgia. He served as a boat skipper/field guide on a geological expedition to the northwest of Svalbard. More recently, he took part in three expeditions to the Greenland ice cap for the Scott Polar Research Institute of Cambridge, as part of the European Space Agency's “Cryosat” project. John is well aware that his career, and the wonderful experiences it has included, all began with one special teacher. With this in mind, he likes nothing more than to pass on his enthusiasm for nature and all things outdoors, with the intention of promoting an awareness and caring attitude towards the natural environment.
Naturalist
Madalena Patacho
Madalena was born and raised in Portugal. Her childhood was spent in Belem, surrounded by Portuguese maritime history, always dreaming about exploring the oceans. Her love for nature has led her to study biology and later to take a Master’s in management of natural resources, specialized in ecotourism. She has lived on Príncipe Island, off the west coast of Africa, working with local communities on a responsible tourism project. She is inspired by the principles of ecotourism and is always looking for the best ways to contribute and leave a positive footprint everywhere. To travel around the world is her biggest passion, connecting with different cultures, exploring the wilderness and having a taste of local genuine experiences. Following this passion has allowed her to extensively explore Latin America, Asia, Europe, Africa and the Arctic. Her knowledge and enthusiastic storyteller talks have taken her to several universities, lecturing about ecotourism, sustainable tourism and nature conservation. When she is not exploring the world, she dedicates her time to Ocean literacy and environmental education working as a marine educator with a variety of audiences raising awareness on ocean conservation.
Naturalist
Deb Goodwin
Passionate about creating opportunities for explorers of all ages to engage with wild places, Deb embraces the power of immersive experiences to inspire curiosity and conservation. Extended backcountry expeditions as a teen jumpstarted this commitment and continue to motivate her travels. No matter the destination, she observes the natural environment with a detective’s mindset, seeking to understand how local geology, weather, ecological processes, and human history together shape the coastal land- and seascape. Deb studied earth science at Carleton College and holds graduate degrees in ecosystem biology, oceanography, and experiential education. Over the last two decades, she has taught and led science projects in locations around the world, complemented by intervals with the National Park Service and wilderness-based leadership development programs. As Associate Professor of Oceanography and Chief Scientist at Sea Education Association, Deb takes undergraduates on multi-month voyages aboard sailing research vessels, training them in scientific techniques, navigation, leadership, and environmental and cultural stewardship. Interested particularly in documenting spatial/temporal changes, Deb leverages long-term datasets, remote sensing, and field observations to explore marine dynamics ranging from offshore plastic pollution to the coastal ice-ocean interface. She is also a member of the Expedition Science Committee, reviewing proposals and coordinating logistics to support visiting researchers joining Lindblad Expeditions/National Geographic voyages.
Naturalist
Karina López
Karina López was born in Guayaquil, Ecuador where she received her bachelor’s degree in Tourism and Hospitality, a second technical degree as a Professional Guide of Ecuador, and a third diploma in French language at the Alliance Francaise. She moved to San Cristóbal Island in 1996 and has divided her time between there and the mainland for nearly two decades. Her deep passion for nature, birdwatching, and marine life led her to become a certified national park naturalist in 1999, and since then she has guided in the Galápagos Islands and also led trips in the Amazon rain forest and throughout the Sacred Valley in Peru. Equal to her passion for guiding on land is her love for guiding underwater, and in 2001 she became certified as a dive master naturalist for the Marine Reserve of Galápagos. She loves to help her guests have the magical experience of swimming with sea turtles, frolicking with playful sea lions, and searching for the elusive but adorable Galápagos penguins. When not leading groups in her beloved islands, she can be found exploring her other passions of international travel, photography, creative writing, cooking traditional Ecuadorian cuisine, and playing soccer.
Naturalist
Conor Ryan
For as long as he can remember, Conor has always been preoccupied with the natural world, from the whales to the fungi. For most of his life he has been an islander: growing up in Cobh, Ireland and settling down in Tobermory in the Hebrides, Scotland. When not on Lindblad ships, Conor likes to explore the Hebrides by sea-kayak and search the Atlantic rainforests and shorelines for edible mushrooms and seaweeds. Conor completed his PhD in Galway on the ecology and population structure of baleen whales in the Celtic Sea and Cape Verde, using stable isotope analysis, molecular genetics and organochlorine contaminants. During this time, he realized that the lab was not his natural habitat, so he now works as a research field scientist, using passive acoustics and line transect surveys to map whale distribution and estimate population sizes. He holds two honorary research fellowships: at the Scottish Association of Marine Science, and on the sailing Research Vessel Song of the Whale. Conor enjoys writing about whale conservation, historical ecology and animal welfare in science. He has published over 50 peer-reviewed articles and book chapters. He lives for sea-watching: staring at the ocean to see what marvels it bestows.
Naturalist
Deirdre Mitchell
Deirdre Mitchell grew up exploring the mountains of her home country of Scotland and immersing herself in its history and culture. This love of the past led her to study for an M.A. in Scottish history at the University of St. Andrews, where she studied everything from the medieval history of Scotland to the art history of Europe! She then went on to gain a graduate degree in Museum and Gallery Studies, before spending a year as a trainee curator at the Museum of the University of St Andrews. Having completed her studies and training, Deirdre decided it was time for an adventure. She applied for the position of curator at the South Georgia Museum on the remote sub-Antarctic island of South Georgia, and quickly fell in love with all things polar. This was the start of an exciting career change which saw her begin working for Lindblad Expeditions-National Geographic in Antarctica and for the British Antarctic Survey at their research stations in Antarctica and on South Georgia, all while continuing to work in museums back home in Scotland! Recently she finally reunited these two passions by returning to the South Georgia Museum in the position of Museum Director. Deirdre now divides her time between the Scottish Highland capital of Inverness and the island of South Georgia, meaning she enjoys year-round summers!
Naturalist
Julia Huggins
Julia is an earth-systems scientist who studies how the interactions between living and non-living parts of Earth’s environments can shape ecosystems and global climate. She is based in Squamish, BC, Canada, and through her research collaborations she also works at research laboratories in Europe and spends time on open-ocean scientific research vessels around the world. Julia’s passion for environmental science and education started at a young age when she grew up exploring the mountains of Wyoming and the seacoast of New England. Julia studied biology at Lewis & Clark College in Portland, OR, and spent several years researching how symbiotic relationships between trees, mushrooms, and soil microbes drive ecosystem-level processes. This work brought her to remote corners of the world, including New Zealand, Patagonia, and Alaska. Julia completed her Ph.D. at the University of British Columbia in Vancouver, BC, Canada, where she studied how chemical processes carried out by tiny microorganisms regulate the health of marine environments. For this research, Julia organized oceanography trips in British Columbia and month-long research expeditions in the Pacific Ocean off the coasts of Mexico and Chile. Throughout her research career, Julia has combined her love of the outdoors with her work as a science educator. Julia has worked as a naturalist and backcountry guide for more than 10 years throughout the Pacific Northwest. She is also a co-founder of the BOAT non-profit that supports access to outdoor education, and she helps make science fun and engaging as a co-host of the Nerdy About Nature podcast. She believes deeply in the power of fun, accessible, place-based education; sharing the things that inspire her about the natural world is the root of her motivation for research and science outreach.
Naturalist
Jeff Campbell
Jeff Campbell fell in love with the ocean while attending boatbuilding school in Eastport, Maine. Since completing his MS in Marine and Estuarine Science at Western Washington University, he has worked for NOAA documenting the ecological impacts of transoceanic fiber-optic cable; the Washington Department of Fish & Wildlife developing an aging method for sixgill sharks; the Lummi Tribe as a Harvest Biologist; Northwest Indian College teaching Fisheries and Wildlife Biology, and as a volunteer for the Whatcom County Marine Mammal Stranding Network. He has been involved in research developing mitigation methods for harmful algae blooms, sterilization methods for oil tanker ballast water, and techniques for screening refinery effluent for harmful ecological effects. He also served as Principle Director on a USDA-funded grant using student interns to study the impact of nutrient-rich run-off on seasonal dead-zones in Bellingham Bay. Jeff is passionate about the marine environment, particularly the northeast Pacific, and believes that the key to preserving this fragile biome is lighting the spark in others by sharing his knowledge on the interconnectedness of seemingly disparate systems. He is particularly interested in the effects of ocean acidification on the larval stages of mollusk, and arthropod larvae. Summers for the last three years have found him driving expedition landing craft and sharing the joys of whale watching with guests. A Lummi Island, Washington resident for more than 18 years, Jeff lives with his wife Penny, who has been a marine naturalist on whale watch boats in the Salish Sea for many years, and their cat, Boo.
Naturalist
Robert Edwards
Growing up in the Appalachian foothills of the Garden State, Rob instinctively knew it made a lot more sense to head over the hill into the fields, forests, lakes, and streams behind his house, rather than down the road to the shopping mall in front of it. The natural world piqued the inherent curiosity in all of us and set his life course based on these questions: how does the world work, and how do we as humans fit into it? As an undergraduate it was a revelation to Rob that one could get paid to hike through clouds of mosquitoes and berry brambles just to collect a water sample, and by the completion of graduate school he had worked on a variety of ecological research projects from the Southern Appalachians to northeastern Quebec. After moving to the western U.S., opportunities included studying the impacts of the oil spill in Prince William Sound, Alaska, crawling through mountain streams to count salmon fry, climbing the Continental Divide to elucidate air pollution effects on mountain ecosystems, and more than a decade working with projects to study the ice and ecology of Antarctica. Currently based in Montana, Rob happily combines work and play to explore interesting places wherever they can be found.
Naturalist
Paulina Saa
María, who goes by her middle name Paulina, was born and raised far from the sea in the Andean city of Quito, the capital of Ecuador. She came to the Galápagos Archipelago for the first time on holiday when she was nine years old, and was smitten. She became obsessed with the idea of one day working in the islands, which inspired her to get her B.Sc. in biology at the Catholic University of Ecuador, followed by a master’s degree in management and ecotourism in natural areas at the university’s graduate school. In 1994, she jumped at the opportunity to take the Galápagos National Park’s naturalist guide course, and has been working as a naturalist and tour leader in Galápagos and Peru ever since. Paulina occasionally takes breaks from guiding to work in other positions. Between 1999 and 2000 she taught general biology for the Medicine Faculty of the Catholic University, and in 2003 she taught the same subject to 11th graders at Quito’s prestigious Colegio Menor, which is affiliated with the San Francisco University of Quito. She has also worked, among other roles, as Scientific Assistant to the Permanent Commission for the South Pacific and Instructor of Environmental Interpretation for the Galápagos National Park. At the moment, she lives between Galápagos and Quito, with her husband Salvador (also a Galápagos naturalist) and their young daughter Violeta. Paulina still works several weeks a year as a Galápagos naturalist, mainly, nowadays, for Lindblad Expeditions, satiating her longing to be surrounded by the exuberant nature of the Galápagos.
Naturalist
Michael Jackson
An experienced traveler, Michael has lived on several continents, including a year spent working as a naturalist and zoologist in Galápagos and three months in Kenya conducting a study of birds of prey. He is the author o f Galápagos: A Natural History , a comprehensive guidebook which details the natural history of the plants and animals found on the islands. He has a passion for science and nature and enjoys sharing his interests with others. For 33 years he worked at St Michaels University School (SMUS) in British Columbia, teaching a range of disciplines including physics, geology, biology, earth science, environmental science and marine science. Michael uses his naturalist experience to lead outdoor education trips and finds great pleasure in seeing others get excited about the things he's interested in. He loves to show how science helps explain much of what we see in the natural world – from tides to rocks and rainbows. He combines his love of nature and his world-renowned expertise on the Galapagos to lead frequent trips to this unique ecosystem. In his spare time, Michael relaxes by kayaking, taking pictures, tinkering with different technologies, traveling and exploring natural history.
Naturalist
Serguei Ponomarenko
Russian-Canadian naturalist Serguei was born into a family of marine biologists on the coast of the Barents Sea, located off the northern coasts of Norway and Russia. He spent his childhood playing in fjords, collecting marine creatures at low tide and learning their strange names and habits. Ever since he was a preschooler, Serguei has known he’d become a biologist and he counts himself lucky that he’s been able to follow his dreams and embrace the many facets of nature. After receiving his PhD in biology and ecology from Moscow University, he worked across various landscapes and geographies, from Arctic tundra and boreal and temperate forests to Central Asian grasslands, mountains, and deserts. His main areas of interest are in conservation ecology and ecosystem restoration, and he initiated the creation of two national parks in Russia. In 1996, Serguei moved to Canada with his wife and son and for the last 14 years, he has led a vegetation mapping project in national parks across the Canadian Arctic, undertaking field surveys and creating vegetation maps for Parks Canada and other agencies. Serguei has organized many expeditions to remote areas of the circumpolar Arctic and has lived for weeks in field camps, where polar bears, grizzlies and wolves were his closest neighbors. He has fallen in love with the vast land of formidable and delicate nature, where the sun doesn’t go below the horizon in summer and where the last frontier is still as it was thousands of years ago. Serguei was also awarded the Certificate of Valour from the Ottawa Police for saving a possible drowning victim.
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