Ana M. Saldarriaga-Gómez

I believe that science can serve as a bridge between discovery and justice for nature. As a conservation geneticist, my work is not only about understanding the evolutionary history of crocodiles but also about using that knowledge to restore balance in ecosystems that have been deeply altered by human activity. I come from a country where biodiversity and social inequality coexist side by side. In Colombia, many of the most biologically rich areas are also those most affected by conflict and neglect. This reality has shaped my approach to science: I want research to reach beyond the academic world and become a practical tool for decision-making. By integrating genomic data with on-the-ground conservation, I aim to provide scientists, governments, and conservation programs with accessible, evidence-based tools to protect species and habitats. But what keeps me moving forward is not only the science itself—it’s the people behind it. 

Working in the field alongside local communities, I’ve seen how curiosity, empathy, and shared purpose can redefine conservation. Every conversation with a fisherman, every night spent searching for crocodiles, reminds me that conservation succeeds only when science and society move together.

Growing up and working in Colombia, I’ve witnessed a persistent disconnect between two worlds: scientists often confined to laboratories and large cities, detached from the social and ecological realities of the field, and the local communities and conservation practitioners who live in direct contact with nature but lack access to scientific frameworks. My work sits precisely at that intersection, where molecular biology meets muddy rivers and real lives. Studying the evolution and genomics of crocodiles allows me to generate both fundamental insights and practical recommendations for their conservation. I find deep purpose in transforming abstract evolutionary theory into tangible outcomes, guidelines for population management, reintroduction plans, and genomic evidence that helps ensure the long-term survival of endangered species. Through this integration, science becomes not only a tool for understanding life but a mechanism for restoring it. 

What fulfills me most is being part of every step of that process: the same person who spends hours writing code and interpreting genomic data is also in the field, drenched in rain, carefully holding a crocodile before its return to the river. I’ve learned that conservation is as much about resilience, humility, and empathy as it is about precision and data. Each release, each animal returning to its natural habitat, embodies the translation of knowledge into life itself. It’s in those moments, when a digital sequence becomes a living creature swimming free, that I understand the true meaning of my work: to build bridges between people and ecosystems, between science and action, and ultimately, between knowledge and hope for the future of biodiversity.