The scientist Time Magazine recognized as a “Hero of the Planet” and who has three species of turtles named for him will be the guest speaker at a free film screening and informal “Galapagos reunion” Friday at Chapman University’s Schmid College of Science.

Peter C.H. Pritchard, Ph.D., director of the Chelonian Research Institute, will talk about conservation issues in the Galapagos Islands and screen the BBC documentary, Lonesome George and the Battle for the Galapagos, at 7:30 p.m. Friday, April 8, Beckman Hall, Room 104.  The documentary has never aired in the United States, so it’s a special opportunity to learn about “Lonesome George,”  an iconic tortoise in the Galapagos Islands and a symbol of the battle to preserve wildlife threatened by illegal fishing, a booming population and an ever-expanding tourism industry. The film is free and open to the public.

Dr. Pritchard is one of the world’s leading authorities on the Galapagos. He also co-teaches the interterm Galapagos travel course with Fred Caporaso, Ph.D., professor, Crean School of Health and Life Sciences Schmid College.

Dr. Caporaso has led the student program for nearly 20 years and has assembled a retrospective slide show of photographs from the program’s many trips and will screen it during a 6:30 p.m. reception preceding the film. Catch a glimpse of a few here and if you’re a Galapagos alum, stop by the reception for a nostalgic gathering — or post a memory in our comments section.