Travel transforms. Ask Charles Darwin.
When he landed on the Galapagos island of St. Cristobal in 1835, Darwin never imagined he would change humankind forever. The wisdom he gained inspired generations of scientists that came after.
On June 1, 2023, Gastronauts will disembark on that same St. Cristobal Island to envision the future of knowledge on food, the gut, and the brain.
Gastronauts is the global venue for the dissemination of knowledge on gut-brain matters. In collaboration with the University San Francisco de Quito – Ecuador (USFQ), Galapagos will be the the fourth Global Gastronauts Symposium. It will bring together 125 scientific leaders to imagine the scientific future of how to turn food into precision medicine.
Registration
Registration for Gastronauts Galapagos is OPEN!!!
There are only 20 spots left. Don’t miss it!
Registration includes breakfast, lunch and coffee breaks. The registration types are as follows:
- Trainee, including postdocs, students, and interns: $550 USD
- Academic faculty: $700 USD
- Industry: $950 UDS
REGISTER HERE
REGISTRATION DEADLINE: 31 March 2023
Abstract Submission
What to share your exciting work? Join us and present a poster of your up and coming idea! Abstracts of all kinds will be accepted including written (200 word max.), graphical abstract, video (1 minute max.), or audio file (1 minute max.).
Some important dates include:
- Submission deadline: Extended deadline!! 20 March 2023
- Last notification for abstract acceptance: 31 March 2023
Submit Here
Symposium agenda
Expand for agendaDay I — June 1, arrival
Keynote:
| Antonio Lazcano UNAM, Mexico | Charles Darwin and the origins of evolution |
Opening reception and poster session
Day II — June 2
Session I: Medicinal plants
| Sarah Sallon Natural Med. Research Center, Israel | Bringing ancient seeds to life |
| María Elena Cazar-Ramirez U Cuenca, Ecuador | Natural bioagents of Ecuador |
| Zhen Wang U of Buffalo, USA | Metabolic engineering of plants |
| Zohar Kerem Hebrew U of Jerusalem, Israel | Edible plants |
Session II: Sensory systems
| Jing Wang U California-San Diego, USA | Protein sensing in reproduction |
| Gabriel Antonio Trueba U San Francisco de Quito, Ecuador | Microbial helpers |
| Dragana Rogulja Harvard U, USA | Sensing circadian rhythms |
| Asya Rolls Technion, Israel | Immunity as a global messenger |
Session III: Mind-body connection
| Michal Schwartz Weizmann Institute, Israel | Immuno-therapy |
| Yoav Livneh Weizmann Institute, Israel | Neural circuits of “How do I feel?” |
Day III — June 3
Session IV: Biotechnology
| Yulong Li Peking U, China | Engineering sensor proteins |
| Enrique Hernández-Lemus INMEGEN, Mexico | Computational genomics |
| Greg Gage Backyard Brains | Neuroscience experiments for everyone |
Session V: Gut physiology
| Frank Reimann U Cambridge, UK | Endocrine signaling in the gut |
| Teresa Lever U Missouri, USA | Visualizing digestion |
| Gilles Mithieux U Lyon, France | Glucose metabolism |
Session VI: Food or medicine
| Chef U San Francisco de Quito, Ecuador | Culinary art |
| Mandë Holford Hunter College, USA | Killer snails |
| Michael Huffman Kyoto U, Japan | The evolution of self-medication |
Day IV — June 4, departure
Travel guidelines to prepare for your trip to the Galapagos
The Galapagos is an archipelago in Ecuador. The capital of Ecuador is Quito and the major coastal city is Guayaquil. The conference will take place on the island of San Cristobal — the capital is Puerto Baquerizo Moreno. The University of San Francisco de Quito has a research center in the town and the conference venue is “Centro Internacional de Convenciones Charles Darwin”.
Expand for tipsBefore you go:
- Make sure your passport is up to date! The US passport office is currently experiencing long delays in processing time.
- Check your state department for visa entry requirements to Ecuador. US and European citizens do not require a visa.
Flights:
- Book with your preferred airline a flight to Quito (UIO) or Guayaquil (GYE). Most major international airlines fly to Quito or Guayaquil, and most flights arrive in the evening or night therefore, you may need to arrive on May 31st and stay the night before flying to the Galapagos.
- From UIO or GYE, there are three airlines that fly to San Cristobal (SCY): LATAM, Avianca, and Equair. Most flights depart early in the morning. June is the high season, be sure to book your flights soon as they will start to sell out.
Galapagos National Park Fees:
- At the UIO or GYE airport, you need to buy a Galapagos visa ($10). Before departing, you will go through a special Galapagos screening area where they scan your bags. Make sure you are not carrying any agricultural products.
- Upon arrival at SCY, you need to pay a park entry fee ($100 per person – cash only).
- Getting from SCY to the main town of Puerto Baquerizo Moreno is only ~5 min by taxi and cost $2. You can also walk, though this will take about twenty minutes.
Accommodation:
There are a number of hotels in the main town of Puerto Baquerizo. They range from around $40/night for a double up to $200 (Note: May hotels are priced per person, please check this when booking). Nearly all hotels are locally owned and operated. As June is the beginning of the high season, book early.
Water:
Bottled water is encouraged. Most hotels offer drinkable water that you can fill up your re-usable water bottles.
Currency:
The currency in Ecuador is the United States Dollar. Not all places take credit cards so bring cash from the mainland. In a bind, there are a few ATMs available on San Cristobal.
Tipping in Ecuador is not customary but is appreciated. Some places will add tax and a 10% tip to the bill. If would like to include tip, ~10% is reasonable.
Getting around/ tourism:
You can explore the island by foot. There are a number of shops where you can plan additional activities, including snorkeling, sky diving or any additional fun adventures.
Organizing committee
We have put together a stellar team from different regions in the Americas. Each member contributes a unique view and different expertise which is at the heart of Gastronauts.
| Maya Kaelberer Gastronauts Director Duke University | Diego V. Bohórquez Gastronauts Curator Duke University |
| Amber L. Alhadeff Monell Chemical Senses | Julia A. Kaltschmidt Stanford University | Ranier Gutierrez CINVESTAV |
Gastronauts Galapagos is co-hosted by:
