Sandie Salazar

Sandie was born on May 2^nd 1975 in Quito, Ecuador. She attended Jean Piaget School and Presentation high school. Since she was a child, she has developed a great attachment to nature; she used to run out of the city any chance that she had. When she finished her high school studies, her father gave her one of the best gifts: a trip to the “Enchanted Islands”. With an economic tour she visited few islands, but it was enough for her to fall in love with this site. She also decided on her career: Biology. She attended the Pontifical Catholic University of Ecuador in Quito, between 1997 and 1999 she developed her thesis on the ecology and conservation of the Galapagos sea lion, with the support of the Charles Darwin Foundation (CDF). Since 1999 she worked as a Research Associate in the CDF, in charge of marine mammal investigations. In these years she actively participated in several emergencies, including the 2001 Jessica oil spill.

In 2000 she married her best friend Xavier, who is also a biologist. This couple has been living in Puerto Ayora since 1997.

In 2003 she won a scholarship from the OAS (Organization of American States) to continue her studies. In the following two years, she and her husband went to Baja California for their post degree studies (M.Sc.), in the CICIMAR (A Research Center of National Polytechnic Institute of Mexico). Here, Sandie graduated with honors, her thesis was on "Temporal and Spatial Variation of the Galapagos Sea Lion Diet”. In 2006 they returned to Ecuador with a great gift: their first baby, Isabela, who was born on August 4^th.

Sandie returned to the CDF, where she worked from April 2006 until February 2008, in charge of marine mammal research, during this time she co-directed the dissertation theses of two local students.

Sandie has led several scientific expeditions in the islands, has published more than 34 scientific publications, and has participated in at least 28 national and international events. She has been working closely with the Galapagos National Park (GNP) advising on issues related to marine mammals. As a naturalist guide for the GNP she wants to play a more active role in the conservation of the islands, both with the community and with our visitors, and be immersed in one of the most beautiful places on earth.