Dr. Rosa Vásquez Espinoza is the founder and Executive Director of Amazon Research International (ARI), a Peru-based nonprofit dedicated to conserving Amazonian biodiversity and preserving indigenous knowledge. ARI advances conservation through scientific discovery, educational programs, and the empowerment of native communities and leaders—ensuring they are not just participants, but leaders and co-creators in biodiversity research and climate solutions.

Her initiatives, supported by grants, donations, and volunteers, bridge cutting-edge science with ancestral wisdom to protect the Amazon’s ecosystems while strengthening the voices of its people. Through ARI, Dr. Vásquez Espinoza fosters collaboration between science and tradition, creating inclusive pathways for sustainable conservation and innovation.

She holds a PhD in Chemical Biology from the University of Michigan, dual BS degrees in Biology and Chemistry from Tennessee Technological University, and is recognized globally as a National Geographic Explorer. Her work highlights the Amazon not only as a vital ecological treasure but also as a source of inspiration and knowledge for a sustainable future.