Dr. Christine Parent

Christine is a Canadian evolutionary biologist and National Geographic Explorer who chases tiny, beautiful land snails to uncover their hidden stories of evolution, resilience, and survival. With support from funding agencies such as the National Science Foundation and the National Geographic Society, Christine leads a team of students, teachers, and collaborators working to uncover the extraordinary diversity of Galápagos land snails, species that are both stunningly varied and, in many cases, perilously close to extinction. Armed with a machete, a backpack full of vials, and a deep appreciation for overlooked biological diversity, she has been working to inform conservation efforts and bring attention to these underdog species occupying the unique habitats in Galápagos, and now more recently across the Americas. 

Christine holds a Ph.D. in evolutionary biology from Simon Fraser University and carried out postdoctoral research at the University of Texas at Austin and the University of California, Berkeley, before becoming a professor at the University of Idaho. She has led multiple research expeditions across remote areas, from Pacific islands to the Andes, always on the lookout for creatures that most people walk past. When she’s not tracking snails through the landscape, Christine can be found sharing her discoveries through photography and storytelling, as well as school and public science engagement. Her work has been featured in children's books and documentaries, and in scientific publications such as Nature Communications. 

Christine collaborates with conservation organizations in the Galápagos, working to protect biodiversity and support local conservation initiatives. Her efforts are well aligned with Adventure Canada’s blend of exploration, education, and community: accessible, science-based storytelling that deepens travellers’ sense of place. She is endlessly inspired by the resilience and coexistence of island species, and the strange, wonderful ways life adapts to new environments. If there’s a chance to explore, document, and share the wild and unexpected side of biodiversity, Christine is all in, preferably with a good pair of hiking boots and a pocket full of snail shells.