Naturalist icon Naturalist

Michael Jackson

An experienced traveler, Michael has lived on several continents, including a year spent working as a naturalist and zoologist in Galápagos and three months in Kenya conducting a study of birds of prey. He is the author of Galápagos: A Natural History, a comprehensive guidebook which details the natural history of the plants and animals found on the islands. 

He has a passion for science and nature and enjoys sharing his interests with others. For 33 years he worked at St Michaels University School (SMUS) in British Columbia, teaching a range of disciplines including physics, geology, biology, earth science, environmental science and marine science.

Michael uses his naturalist experience to lead outdoor education trips and finds great pleasure in seeing others get excited about the things he's interested in. He loves to show how science helps explain much of what we see in the natural world – from tides to rocks and rainbows. He combines his love of nature and his world-renowned expertise on the Galapagos to lead frequent trips to this unique ecosystem.

In his spare time, Michael relaxes by kayaking, taking pictures, tinkering with different technologies, traveling and exploring natural history.