Salome Buglass is a marine ecologist at the Charles Darwin Research Station in Galápagos, Ecuador.

She is engaged in several research projects that support the management of the Galápagos Marine Reserve, where she lived for nearly four years.

Buglass’ passion for conservation has taken her around the globe. She has worked across a wide array of natural environments in the United Kingdom, the Dominican Republic, Trinidad and Tobago, Canada and Ecuador.

Currently, Buglass is part of the first comprehensive characterization of deep-sea ecosystems, focusing particularly on underwater mountain systems called seamounts. She also supports the ecological monitoring project that assesses coastal reef health.

In 2018, Buglass received a National Geographic Early Career Grant, which she is using to lead a pioneer study on exploring the twilight zone ecosystem on seamounts using remotely operated vehicles.

With her background in biogeography and experience working in areas threatened by climate change, Buglass is focused on finding solutions that will protect natural environments through conservation and sustainable use, while enhancing the resilience of nearby communities.

Originally published on nationalgeographic.com, March 2021