New British High Commissioner to Guyana visits Sophia Point
And other Summer 2026 updates…
We were delighted to host the newly in post British High Commissioner to Guyana, Joe Fisher, at Sophia Point. Despite the rainy season downpours, we took Joe on a tour of our trails, checked our wildlife cameras, and even enjoyed a visit from the resident howler monkeys.
During Joe’s trip, we showcased the facilities we have developed to be able to provide accessible environmental education opportunities for young Guyanese and to support international research collaborations. We also introduced Joe to the local River View Toshao, visited the local community, and discussed ways in which the British High Commission and Sophia Point could work together to advance our shared goals.
At Sophia Point, we are incredibly proud of our strong UK-Guyana links. We look forward to working closely with Joe and his team to strengthen these connections in the months and years ahead.
University of Guyana field trip
At the end of May, we enjoyed a great few days hosting 21 third-year students from the University of Guyana at Sophia Point.
Led by Dr. Arianne-Elise Harris and Ms. Tameka King, the group joined us for the field component of their mammalogy and ornithology courses. Over four nights, students immersed themselves in hands-on, field-based scientific work - setting mist nets to monitor bird activity, checking camera traps, studying bat diversity, tracking mammals along river creeks at night visiting the always captivating Parrot Islands.
This immersive fieldwork brings classroom learning to life while building practical research skills and providing a deeper understanding of Guyana’s biodiversity. On the final evening, students presented their findings and reflected on everything they had experienced and discovered during the trip.
We’re always proud to support and host the next generation of Guyanese scientists and we can't wait for more trips in the future!
Future scientists at Sophia Point
We hosted 20 pupils and teachers from local Holy Name Primary School at Sophia Point for an immersive day of primary school environmental education.
Dr Priya Maharaj, trustee and recipient of the Arizona State University Mini Fellowship on Climate Change, led the sessions, supported by a team from the University of Guyana including Eric Stoll, Dr. Phillip DaSilva, and Mark Bastian. During the day the students explored how shifts in biodiversity act as vital clues to our changing climate.
The program was a blend of classroom learning and hands-on fieldwork in the rainforest, culminating in some impressive poster presentations by the students!
We co-sponsored this great initiative alongside Dr Maharaj’s fellowship from Arizona State University and were left very inspired by the future conservation leaders!
Building connections for conservation in Guyana
In June, Executive Director Sam Airey had a packed trip in Guyana, catching up with key stakeholders and spending time with the Sophia Point team. Sam met with local trustees, academics from the University of Guyana and partners from other conservation groups to discuss the continued development of the Sophia Point and the next phase of several important partnerships.
A highlight of the trip was meeting with the Minister for Amerindian Affairs, Hon. Sarah Browne-Shadeek. During the discussion, Sam and trustee René Edwards spoke with the Minister and her team about the central role that local Amerindian community members play in Sophia Point’s work. The meeting also provided an opportunity to explore areas for future collaboration between the Ministry and Sophia Point. Sam also met with the Global Biodiversity Alliance, a pioneering collaboration established in Guyana to gather leaders, scientists, indigenous voices, and innovators to unite global efforts toward biodiversity protection.
The visit reinforced the importance of Sophia Point's partnerships across Guyana and highlighted exciting opportunities for collaboration that will support the organisation's mission in the years ahead.
The trip also allowed Sam to bring out much needed safety and wildlife monitoring kit for the team to use. This is only possible thanks to the generous and continued support of our funders - thank you!
Sophia Point supports public health research with the Ministry of Health
We recently hosted a delegation from Guyana's Ministry of Health, including specialists from the Vector Control Services Unit, who visited the site to undertake insect surveillance and disease vector monitoring.
The purpose of the visit was to survey insect species that can act as carriers of disease, including triatomine bugs associated with Chagas disease, and mosquitoes that can transmit malaria and dengue fever. The work forms part of the Ministry of Health's ongoing vector surveillance and public health monitoring programme.
Over several nights, the team carried out a range of field-based activities, including light-trapping, to assess potential disease-carrying insect populations in the area surrounding Sophia Point to help inform their wider understanding of insect populations and disease spread.
The Ministry of Health delegation was joined by academic researchers from the United States. We were proud to be supporting research and monitoring activities which contribute to scientific knowledge and public health efforts in Guyana.
