# Charles Darwin Research Station

> Research institute in the Galapagos

**Wikidata**: [Q113826](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q113826)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charles_Darwin_Research_Station)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/charles-darwin-research-station

## Summary
The Charles Darwin Research Station is a research institute located in Puerto Ayora on the Galápagos Islands, Ecuador. Operated by the Charles Darwin Foundation, it serves as a dedicated center for scientific investigation, distinct from teaching institutions, and was awarded the International Cosmos Prize in 2002.

## Key Facts
- **Classification:** Instance of a research institute; an organization dedicated exclusively to generating new knowledge through systematic investigation.
- **Location:** Situated in Puerto Ayora, Santa Cruz Canton, Ecuador.
- **Coordinates:** Latitude -0.75, Longitude -90.3167.
- **Elevation:** 18 meters above sea level.
- **Parent Organization:** Charles Darwin Foundation.
- **Awards:** Recipient of the International Cosmos Prize in 2002.
- **Identifiers:**
    - ISNI: 0000000107409595
    - VIAF ID: 134495749
    - Ringgold ID: 396265
    - Geonames ID: 3659378
    - Library of Congress Authority ID: n84177662
    - Index Herbariorum Code: CDS
- **Multilingual Presence:** Wikipedia entries available in 17 languages including English, Spanish, Japanese, Russian, and Finnish.

## FAQs
### Q: Where is the Charles Darwin Research Station located?
It is located in the Galápagos Islands, specifically within Puerto Ayora in the Santa Cruz Canton of Ecuador.

### Q: How does the station function as a research institute?
As a research institute, its primary purpose is conducting research rather than teaching. It operates as a dedicated engine of discovery, distinct from universities that balance research with undergraduate education.

### Q: What international recognition has the station received?
The station received the International Cosmos Prize in 2002. It also maintains significant global visibility with encyclopedia entries in 17 different languages and identifiers across major library and scientific catalogs.

### Q: Who operates the Charles Darwin Research Station?
The station is the operational arm of the Charles Darwin Foundation.

## Why It Matters
The Charles Darwin Research Station represents a critical infrastructure component for scientific advancement in the Galápagos. By functioning strictly as a research institute—rather than a university or commercial entity—it allows scientists to focus purely on investigation without the distractions of teaching curricula or profit motives. This organizational structure supports long-term, high-risk research essential for understanding complex ecosystems. Its recognition with the International Cosmos Prize highlights its role in addressing global challenges, serving as a distinct hub where talent and resources are concentrated to accelerate breakthroughs in biological and environmental sciences.

## Notable For
- **Exclusive Research Focus:** Dedicated solely to research activities, differentiating it from teaching universities and policy-focused think tanks.
- **Strategic Location:** Positioned uniquely in the Galápagos Islands at 18 meters elevation, facilitating direct access to distinct ecosystems.
- **Global Identification:** Mapped across extensive knowledge systems including the Library of Congress, VIAF, and Harvard Index of Botanists (ID 92120).
- **International Acclaim:** Awarded the International Cosmos Prize in 2002.
- **Linguistic Reach:** Covered in 17 Wikipedia language editions, reflecting broad international relevance.

## Body

### Operational Nature and Classification
The Charles Darwin Research Station is formally classified as a research institute. In the landscape of knowledge-producing institutions, this designation signifies an entity that exists purely to generate new knowledge through systematic investigation. Unlike universities, which divide attention between teaching and research, or companies that pursue research for commercial ends, the station functions as a dedicated operational entity.

It is distinct from scientific societies, which are typically membership-based organizations. Instead, the station focuses on hands-on inquiry. It is cataloged in library systems under the Dewey Decimal Classification 001.406 and recognized in geographic databases via the Geonames feature code S.ITTR.

### Geography and Location
The station is geographically situated in the Santa Cruz Canton of Ecuador, specifically located in the town of Puerto Ayora. Its precise coordinates are latitude -0.75 and longitude -90.3167. The facility rests at an elevation of 18 meters above sea level.

### Organizational Structure
The station operates under the parent organization of the Charles Darwin Foundation. It holds a specific Ringgold ID (396265) under the name "Estación Científica Charles Darwin." The entity is also identified in the Harvard Index of Botanists with the ID 92120 and possesses an Index Herbariorum code of CDS, indicating its role in botanical research and specimen management.

### Identifiers and Global Recognition
The station maintains a robust presence across global knowledge and library networks. Its identifiers include:
- **VIAF:** 134495749
- **ISNI:** 0000000107409595
- **Library of Congress:** n84177662
- **Freebase:** /m/0972rk
- **GNS Unique Feature ID:** -925626
- **HAL Structure ID:** 535115
- **IdRef:** 117840661

The station is documented in Encyclopædia Britannica Online with the ID "place/Charles-Darwin-Research-Station." It has sitelinks across 17 Wikipedia languages (including Cebuano, Commons, Esperanto, French, Hindi, Korean, and Ukrainian) and an associated Wikimedia Commons category.

### Nomenclature
The entity is known by several aliases in different languages and catalogs, including:
- Estación Científica Charles Darwin
- La Estación Científica Charles Darwin
- Station Charles Darwin
- La Station Charles Darwin
- チャールズ・ダーウィン財団 (Charles Darwin Foundation)

## References

1. [Source](https://www.expo-cosmos.or.jp/english/cosmos/jyusyou/)
2. Virtual International Authority File
3. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013
4. Aligned ISNI and Ringgold identifiers for institutions
5. HAL