Operation Wallacea (Opwall) began working within the Wallacea region of Indonesia in 1995. Initially funded to run a rapid assessment of this poorly-explored area, we soon discovered that the need for long term monitoring data in many ecosystems was critical.

Nearly 30 years on, we now run biodiversity research expeditions all over the world, sourcing data that has underpinned hundreds of research papers and informed high-level environmental policy decisions in the sites we work in. We also offer biodiversity and conservation field training courses in the UK as well as online training courses using data collected on our expeditions.

Biodiversity research expeditions

Our expeditions involve teams of experienced scientists and field biologists running a series of biodiversity surveys and independent research projects at overseas sites. These scientists collect monitoring data and complete short-term specialist projects to support academic publications and providing long-term datasets indicating the ecological health of our research sites. Monitoring surveys are typically standardized between sites, allowing us to not only identify long-term biodiversity changes occurring in a given site, but also meaning we can compare trends and answer conservation questions using data from multiple sites sourced from the same methods. Specialist projects are more short-term and often change between years; these use specific methodological approaches to answer a range of ecological and conservation questions. Examples of these include examining the effectiveness of coral snake mimicry patterns, evaluating the impact of techniques for controlling populations of invasive lionfish, or targeted taxonomic collections to support our search for new species.

The combined approach of biodiversity monitoring programmes and specialist projects has proved remarkably successful; our expeditions having yielded hundreds of research articles and describing dozens of new species to science. Our monitoring data is particularly valuable, and otherwise hard to source. Most science programmes abroad that deliver research outcomes are funded on a short-term basis by grants with typically tightly restricted aims. Long-term projects covering large biogeographical scales that can incorporate more than one ecosystem are thus rare. By adopting a volunteer funded model, Opwall does not suffer from those restrictions and can draw upon researchers from a wide range of different disciplines and academic institutions, and create long-term research projects. However, this approach only works because our expeditions are entirely funded by, and rely on, teams of student volunteers who join expeditions for the opportunity to work on real-world research programmes alongside academic researchers.
The presence of so many publishing researchers and academics separate Opwall from other volunteer organisations, allowing a truly research orientated project. You can also find out more about peoples’ experiences and our projects at the Opwall Blog.

Learn how you can join one of our expeditions by clicking here.

Our Research Projects (Short Version)

The below is a small part of a longer video – click here to view the full version.

Research

Who is involved with our research?

Large teams of ecologists, scientists, academics and postgraduate researchers who are specialists in various aspects of biodiversity, zoology, or ecology are concentrated at the target study sites. This gives volunteers the opportunity to work on a wide range of projects alongside field specialists.

Outputs

The expeditions produce a large number of publications in peer-reviewed journals each year – over 650 so far. This includes numerous papers in the two most prestigious academic journals – Science and Nature. It has also led to the discovery of 73 new species that have been formally described. Our independent funding enables us to create and maintain large temporal and spatial biodiversity datasets, which not only underpin our research, but also provide information to help with organising effective conservation management programmes in the sites we work in.

Cumulative publications produced from Opwall expeditions over time
(as of April 2024)

Number of papers published each year from Opwall expeditions
(as of April 2024)

Independent funding – enabling long-term research

Most science programmes that deliver research outcomes are funded on a short-term basis by grants with typically tightly restricted aims. Long-term projects covering large bio-geographical scales that can incorporate more than one ecosystem are rare. By adopting a volunteer funded model, Opwall does not suffer from those restrictions and can draw upon researchers from a wide range of different disciplines and academic institutions, and create long-term research projects.

Those researchers and academics also separate Opwall from other volunteer organisations, allowing a truly research orientated project. You can also find out more about peoples experiences and our projects at the Opwall Blog.

Joining as a Research Assistant

An Operation Wallacea expedition allows you the chance to participate in active field research. By working with a range of academic teams and scientists you are afforded the opportunity to enhance your career potential, to see if field work is something you wish to pursue and to try something completely different, all while being part of a legacy-leaving project.

Joining to Complete a Dissertation/Thesis

You can join an expedition to collect data for your own project, using this towards your degree or in some cases masters theses or even to allow you the opportunity to work in a particular field or study area.

Joining as a School Group

Groups of sixth form/high school students in their last two years before going on to university or college can join Opwall expeditions as long as they are accompanied by a teacher. The school groups are required to collect data for at least part of their expedition which helps with the research objectives and publications for that site. During their 2 week expeditions the school groups also have the opportunity to work alongside a range of different field scientists and learn about the survey techniques and species encountered. At each of the sites a lecture series is run to provide background information about the habitats and species, which are tied into many of the concepts learned in pre-university biology, geography and environmental science courses.

For more information, click the links below.