Meet Sarah Darwin, Scientist Recreates Ancestor Charles Darwin's Historic 1830s Voyage

In 2023, a group of scientists set out to recreate history scripted by Charles Darwin when he sailed from the English port of Plymouth, headed for the Galapagos Islands off the coast of Ecuador. Darwin's arrival on the island in the 1830s played a key role in developing his world-changing theory of natural selection. The zealous new team arrived at the archipelago in April 2024 to observe the challenges that the reserved World Heritage Site is facing-- from pollution and climate change to illegal fishing. One of these scientists is Sarah Darwin, a botanist, geologist, and the great-great-granddaughter of the pioneering scientist. 

Who Is Sarah Darwin?

Sarah Darwin, the descendent of Charles Darwin, is carving her own trail of history in the field of STEM. She was born on April 1, 1964, in London to metallurgist George Erasmus Darwin and Shuna (née Service). Sarah Darwin first visited the Galapagos Islands in 1995 on a holiday with her family. 

Darwin holds a BSc in Botany from Reading University in 1999 and a PhD from University College London in 2009. Her PhD thesis was entitled 'The systematics and genetics of tomatoes on the Galápagos Islands'. She also mentors over 200 aspiring scientists as part of a project to raise the alarm about environmental and climate threats to the planet.

As the heiress of the Darwinian legacy, Sarah Darwin is passionate about the conservation of the Galapagos Islands. She is the ambassador of the Galapagos Conservation Trust, a charity aimed at preserving the endangered species. In 2009, she wrote the foreword for a book titled Galapagos: Preserving Darwin's Legacy by Tui de Roy.

In 2003, Darwin got married to a German botanist, Johannes Vogel, who is the former Keeper of Botany at London's Natural History Museum and now the Director General of the Museum für Naturkunde in Berlin. They have two sons, Leo Erasmus Darwin Vogel and Josiah Algy Darwin Vogel.

Sarah Darwin's Galapagos Project

Sarah Darwin and her team set sail for the Galapagos island onboard the Oosterschelde, a refurbished, three-mast schooner built more than 100 years ago. She arrived at the archipelago, not without her trusted On the Origin of Species copy. She spoke to the media about the vast differences between the 1830s and now.

"I think probably the main difference is that you know, there are people working now to protect the islands," the 60-year-old told Agence France Presse. "I think if (Darwin) were able to come back now and see the efforts that everybody is making, both locally and globally, to protect these extraordinary islands and that biodiversity."

"He'd be really, really excited and impressed," Sarah Darwin asserted. The Galapagos islands are known as some of the most biodiverse regions with a vibrant history. In colonial times, they served as a pit stop for pirates who caught and ate the giant turtles that call them home. During World War II, they hosted a US military base.

Sarah Darwin's team of researchers spoke about the environmental threats that the islands have been enduring today. Indian-born scientist Laya Pothunuri said, "I plan to do it using recycled plastic, which also, again, is a big problem over here," she said, noting that plastic waste ends up being consumed by wildlife.

In 2023, a study by the Charles Darwin Foundation found that giant turtles in the Galapagos were ingesting harmful materials due to human pollution. The expedition scientists are working with researchers and some private organisations on confronting invasive species and protecting endemic ones.