The Academy's Institute for Biodiversity Science and Sustainability is home to more than 100 dedicated scientists, researchers, and support staff. Together, we travel the world in our efforts to discover new knowledge about Earth's biodiversity, and to rapidly apply that knowledge to a wide range of protections.
From specific initiatives such as our in-house Scientific Diving department—dedicated to surveying and protecting Earth's largely unexplored oceans—to priorities that include the rapid sharing and application of the data we collect, we're committed to being a visible and active force in efforts to sustain life on Earth.
For the official launch of our Islands 2030 initiative in the Lesser Antilles, Academy staff traveled to St. Martin to research its unique terrestrial biodiversity and embark on exciting collaborations with local communities.
In early-2022, deep-diving Academy Hope for Reefs researchers, along with local partners, conducted the first-ever biodiversity surveys of the Maldives' twilight, or mesophotic, zone—and formally identified a number of new-to-science species, including the stunning Rose-Veiled Fairy Wrasse, pictured here.
Photo © Yi-Kai Tea
The Hope for Reefs team made its Indian Ocean debut in October 2018, beginning with biotic surveys of marine invertebrates in the shallows and concluding with a descent into the mesophotic zone in December—likely to be Zanzibar's first scientific exploration of this mysterious realm.
In October 2017, a team of Academy scientists traveled to Malaysia to conduct a floor-to-canopy biodiversity survey—or bioblitz—of the thriving, 130-million-year-old rainforest atop Penang Hill. Working alongside Malaysian colleagues, the team will share their observations of plant and animal life in real-time via iNaturalist.
The mission of the Academy's Institute for Biodiversity Science and Sustainability (IBSS) is to gather new knowledge about life's diversity and the process of evolution—and to rapidly apply that understanding to our efforts to sustain life on Earth.
New nudibranchs, sea urchins, corals, and fish in the most biologically diverse marine ecosystem on the planet.
Dr. Bob Drewes works to document and help protect São Tomé and Príncipe's many unknown, endemic species.
Dr. Brian Fisher investigates ant populations in one of the last remaining pristine forests in Madagascar.
See why Academy scientists journeyed to the western Pacific to study Palau's surprisingly pristine coral reefs.
In March 2014, ichthyologist Luis Rocha traveled to the Cayman Islands to study and collect invasive lionfish.
The Afar region in Ethiopia has played host to some of the world's most important hominin discoveries.
Academy scientists suspect the Verde Island Passage may be “the center of the center” of marine biodiversity.
Academy researchers joined international scientists to explore and survey the Red Sea's at-risk richness.
Since 1997, Academy scientists have been documenting Myanmar's biodiversity and empowering local scientists.
The Gaoligong Shan region hosts one of the most diverse assemblages of plant and animal species in all of China.
The Academy is home to the world's largest collection of scientific specimens from the Galápagos Islands.
North America, South America, Asia, Africa—our 2007–2012 expeditions spanned those continents and more.
Jack Dumbacher has been mapping bird distribution across Papua—making some startling discoveries in the process.
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