Pilot Nature Guardians
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.
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 Dulith
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.
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.
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.