Liliana Ayala, PhD

What’s the work that you do?

I have participated in seven scientific expeditions to Antarctica since 2001. My research focuses on the ecology and conservation of seabirds, marine mammals, and coastal ecosystems, particularly in the Humboldt Current System and the Antarctic region. I contribute to scientific research that advances our understanding of marine biodiversity and supports evidence-based conservation. I am a CITES specialist appointed by the Peruvian government and a member of the Peruvian National Committee of the IUCN and the Pacific Seabird Group. I am also an Associate Researcher at APECO and a Professor and Researcher at Universidad Científica del Sur in Peru.

What keeps you going?

I am motivated by the responsibility to generate scientific knowledge that supports the conservation of marine megafauna and the ecosystems they depend on. I value collaborating with multidisciplinary teams and mentoring the next generation of scientists, because addressing global environmental challenges requires both teamwork and knowledge sharing. Antarctica is a unique natural laboratory where every expedition reveals new insights into how marine life responds to climate change. Documenting and communicating these changes is both a privilege and a responsibility, as the evidence we gather today can help guide conservation decisions and inspire collective action to protect our oceans for future generations.

What’s your message to the world?

The sea has always been a driving force in my life. I was born in a port city, grew up by the sea, and now I study the megafauna that inhabits those waters. I believe everyone should find and pursue what truly inspires them. To paraphrase the biologist Ernst Mayr: If you do not love what you do, you are unlikely to do it well. That belief has guided both my personal journey and my commitment to advancing scientific knowledge for the conservation of marine ecosystems.