Leadership
Isidora Catalán Muñoz
Isidora is a marine biologist from the Universidad Nacional Andrés Bello (Chile). She is passionate about the conservation of aquatic systems and their biotic elements, and environmental education. During her professional education, Isidora has been dedicated mainly to the study of pollution and aquatic ecotoxicology in freshwater, developing laboratory and field techniques associated with microplastics, using macroinvertebrates and native freshwater fish as a study model to evaluate the processes of bioaccumulation and biomagnification of pollutants. On the other hand, Isidora has been strongly linked to environmental education, as she considers it fundamental to communicate science to the community. Since 2024, she has been a part of the “Acuario Ambulante” project promoted by the Bajamar Laboratory of the Andrés Bello University, where she attends educational and hospital centers to teach children/adolescents about the curiosities of the intertidal and the importance at the ecosystemic level through mobile aquariums, activities and interactive lectures. Isidora is currently a student of the Master in Natural Resources at UNAB, continuing with her thesis on microplastic pollution in rivers in collaboration with the Universidad Mayor (Chile) and Fairfield University (USA).
Ben Castro
Ben Castro is an early-career ecologist specializing in tree ecophysiology. After completing a Master’s degree in Australia, where he developed a passion for plant physiology and ecosystem ecology, Ben earned a Ph.D. in Ecology from Pontificia Universidad Católica, Chile. His research focuses on understanding how trees and forests acclimate, adapt, and evolve, because of environmental stressors such as global change, drought, and nutrient availability.
Ben Castro has worked in diverse ecosystems, from temperate forests to tropical and arid regions, studying trees and other biological diversity. His career has brought him to North America, Southern Brazil, Amazonia, and most Southern South American ecosystems. His research contributes valuable insights into tree ecophysiology behavior in Southern Chile and Patagonian forests.
In addition to his academic work, Ben recently founded Nothofagus LAB, an ecology-focused NGO dedicated to conducting ecological research and serving as a think tank for ecological environmental practices. Through this organization, he aims to bridge the gap between ecological scientific research and ecological thinking of the society, while promoting on-the-ground conservation practices and empowering communities to know and protect ecosystems.
Yasmin Catricheo
Yasmin is a Native American (Mapuche-Chile) woman certified in physics education, and employed by Associated Universities Inc. (AUI) in Washington, D.C. as the senior STEM education specialist. At AUI, Yasmin assists with and/or co-leads numerous STEM education projects as well as develops new initiatives. Examples of current projects include Innovators Developing Accessible for Astronomy (IDATA); Cosmovisions of the Pacific Rim; Big Astronomy: People, Places, Discoveries; and the North American Office of Astronomy for Development (NA-ROAD). Prior to her time at AUI, she earned a master’s degree in education with a concentration in science from Universidad del Bío Bío in Chile, and spent seven years teaching physics and other natural sciences in middle school, high school and college. Her research focused on science pedagogy and improving science communication and argumentation skills in high school physics students. As a member of the MAPU TRAFUN association and being of Mapuche origins, Yasmin has been working for the past 10 years to preserve and share the Mapuche Indigenous roots, knowledge and ways of knowing the universe through social and educational activities. She serves as the current president and CEO of the Janequeo Foundation, the governing council chairperson for the International Astronomical Union – North American Regional Office of Astronomy for Development, and board secretary for the Astronomers Without Borders Board of Directors.
Pablo Dutilh
Born in Santiago de Chile, but raised in the Lakes Region, Pablo is a father, an old school boy scout, deep conservationist, in love with nature, dedicated for more than 30 years to conservation, environmental education and sustainable tourism. Now living with his family in Castro, Chiloé, he’s in charge of the connection between the Reserve operations and the outside world. His role in the Reserve is to design, communicate, and organize all the different scientific programs and education activities that the Reserve is going on. His decades of experience in Environmental Education and expeditions, give us all the expert advice and knowledge to give you the best in information and solutions for every logistic operation. With a deep knowledge of forest ecosystems because of his Forestry background, he can guide you into a real connection and understanding of the Melimoyu environment, and Ecosystems. Optimistic, Enthusiastic, and always ready to go, Pablo is always attending every need you can have during the expeditions, and willing to help you, in order to deliver safe and comfortable experiences for everyone. If you have any question about the Melimoyu forests, just talk to him and start a good conversation!
Gloria Howes San Martin
Gloria is an Ecotourism Administrator from the Andrés Bello National University of Chile. She has extensive experience leading the design of programs, activities, and educational materials that facilitate the exchange of knowledge between science and the inhabitants of strategic ecosystems in Chile, especially in the Chiloé Archipelago and the northern Patagonian coast. This includes the “Educational Navigation Route,” an Environmental Education Program that won the Reciclápolys 2018 award.
Throughout her professional development, she has carried out vigorous conservation work alongside rural communities and key public and private sector stakeholders, understanding that collaborative work is essential to protect the territory we share. She uses environmental education as a management tool to promote the appreciation of natural heritage and the adoption of good environmental practices.
With this vision and purpose, she has been part of national and international initiatives such as the Cetacean Conservation Organization in Uruguay, Tantauco Park in Chiloé, Chile, Development and Land-Use Plans (PDOT) in Esmeraldas, Ecuador, Fondo Naturaleza Chile, and MERI Foundation, where she worked for eight years as Director of Environmental Education and actively participated in scientific expeditions for the study of the blue whale.
Her work in environmental education and territorial engagement was recognized by Chile’s Ministry of the Environment with the “Women Leaders in Sustainability 2017” award, and she is currently the Director of the Mission Patagonia Program at the Elemental Melimoyu Reserve.
Paola López Contreras
Paola is from Quinchao Island, Chiloé, where she currently lives with her family, two cats and a horse. She has a philosophy and education degree from the Universidad de Chile and also makes a living through her naturalist illustrations, which generally depict the native flora an fauna of Southern Chile. Paola has a variety of certifications in the naturalist illustration field from establishments like Senda Darwin, Robsonella Institute, and the Peabody Museum at Yale University. She most commonly works with ink and watercolor. In one of her most recently published works, she collaborated with the Fundación Conservación Marina to publish a book depicting the most commonly seen birds of the Nature Sanctuary in Curaco de Vélez wetlands.
Paola works as a consultant for an environmental and renewable energy NGO called EGEA, where she helps create bespoke educational programs mostly related to water and energy efficiency. These programs are implemented in vulnerable communities in both Central and Southern Chile. She also creates educational material and art-related curriculum to be implemented in schools, the most recent being Kalem preschool in Castro, Chiloé. For the past few years, she implemented an environmentally focused “creativity-boost” workshop to help the teachers at Kalem.
Paola leads a family run private conservation project called Bosque Palqui, in a rural area of Curaco de Veléz, Chiloé. Here, she helps to protect an area of Valdivian coastal rainforest through various conservation actions, including environmental education programs and running tours for both national and international tourists. Bosque Palqui recently became the first Cornell Lab Nestwatch Chapter in Chile.
Anica Miller-Rushing
Anica completed a research-based Ph.D. in STEM Education at the University of Maine in the College of Education and Human Development. Anica’s research focuses on teacher agency and identity to support the potential of K-12 teachers of science to serve as autonomously-driven systems-level change agents. Her recent publications span educational topics such as climate change, computational thinking, modeling, instrument development and elementary teacher agency. Before pursuing her Ph.D., Anica taught formally in K-12 and informally through nature centers. Today, she is a STEM Education Research Associate for Associated Universities Inc. (AUI) and consults for various state and national educational, science and environmental education networks. In her personal time, she enjoys sailing along the coast of Maine with her family.
Javier Rojas
With more than 15 years of experience working with urban and rural communities, Javier has developed a deep sensitivity and passion for fostering sustainable initiatives aligned with ecosystem conservation and restoration. He is an environmental industrial civil engineer from Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, with a Master’s in Public Administration from Hohai University and a Master’s in Business and Organizations Management from ESE Business School. Specializing in innovation, sustainability, circular economy and climate change adaptation, he applies these concepts to business models, public-private partnerships, and community development. His work across Latin America, the U.S. and China has focused on integrating conservation with financial and technological sustainability. As director of innovation and sustainability at AWARE and coordinator of Universidad del Desarrollo’s Patagonia Norte Technological Node, he leads projects that enhance community and organizational resilience to environmental and technological challenges. Javier’s systemic approach bridges research, policy and practice to drive sustainable impact, ensuring that environmental education acts as a key driver for the development of concrete solutions to present and evolving global needs.
Tiffany Stone Wolbrecht
Tiffany is a STEM educator and researcher with over a decade of experience dedicated to advancing education and public engagement in Earth, space, and physical sciences. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Physics from Penn State University and a Master of Education in Physics Education from Edinboro University. Tiffany currently serves as the Interim Director of Education and Public Engagement at AUI, where she leads initiatives that bridge the gap between scientific research and public understanding, with a particular focus on climate science and environmental stewardship. Previously, she worked in planetariums, developing and delivering STEM content to audiences of all ages.
Her work at the intersection of teaching, research, and public outreach is driven by a passion for making science accessible and engaging for all. Tiffany seeks to foster curiosity about the natural world, inspire action on climate issues, and promote sustainable practices. Her journey is fueled by a love of learning and a deep commitment to instilling a sense of wonder about our planet and the universe in both students and the broader public.
Esteban Tapia Brunet
Esteban is a Renewable Natural Resources Engineer from the University of Chile. His love for nature, sensitivity towards indigenous communities, and expertise in Geographic Information Systems have allowed him to contribute to various conservation organizations. He has participated in cultural tradition rescue initiatives, rural development, and land-use planning. Through these projects, he has shared experiences with diverse communities, particularly on Chiloé Island and in northern Ecuador.
His adventurous spirit has led him to his current role as Manager of the Melimoyu Elemental Reserve, where he leads the on-site team. He’s our captain, and navigates the intricate fjords of the Guaytecas Archipelago and explores the wild corners of the reserve, while implementing new trekking and research infrastructure.
Catalina Valencia Rubilar
Catalina is a natural resource engineer and graduated from Universidad de La Frontera in 2015, at Temuco, Chile. She´s energetic, curious, and loves nature. Through her work, she seeks to motivate changes in people’s attitudes and actions, so they can contribute to nature’s conservancy, through their daily lives, jobs, and choices.
She has almost 5 years of experience working in environmental education with children, youngsters, and adults. She started this path in 2018 at MERI Foundation alongside the environmental education team, conducting and collaborating on different educational and outreach projects about cetaceans, freshwater ecosystems of Chilean Patagonia, and Andean highland flamingos. As well as in environmental education camps for children, in the design of educational material alongside multidisciplinary teams, and in outreach projects of allies organizations. Catalina has been a volunteer on environmental education projects for organizations like Plastic Oceans Chile and Mañke Chile. Moreover, she volunteered as a local translator for the 2020 Astronomy in Chile Educator Ambassadors Program (ACEAP) cohort. She is currently working as an independent environmental consultant.