Dr. Rosa is a Peruvian chemical biologist, National Geographic Explorer, United Nations Harmony with Nature Scientist and award-winning artist currently based between the UK and Perú
In a nutshell: Dr. Rosa spearheads exploration, conservation and science initiatives across the Amazon Rainforest. She also writes narrative pieces and conducts keynotes, workshops and educational experiences in sustainability, leadership and nature exploration, inspired by lessons from the Amazon and other expeditions worldwide.
“My mission is to show that the biodiversity in the Amazon is far beyond jaguars and anacondas - there’s a whole untapped universe to explore, from stingless bees, pink dolphins, bioluminescent fungi, to extreme microbes. With science and art, I hope to invite others to fall in love with our Amazonia and our natural world.”
Dr. Rosa Vásquez Espinoza, Peruvian chemical biologist, National Geographic Explorer, and award-winning artist, integrates her Andean-Amazonian heritage and learnings in traditional medicine from her grandmother in their backyard’s 'natural pharmacy' into her work. As founder of Amazon Research Internacional, Rosa unites science and advocacy, collaborating with indigenous communities to illuminate and protect Amazonian ecosystems. Her ground-breaking work includes becoming the first microbial explorer of the Amazonian Boiling River, leading the first chemical analysis of Amazonian stingless bees and medicinal honey in Peru, and advancing knowledge that supported Peru’s Law 26305, granting stingless bees legal protection for the first time.
Rosa has journeyed from discovering novel antibiotics and green chemistry solutions during her Ph.D. to discovering new microbial species, protecting bees and leading innovative expeditions. Today, Rosa travels to the most extreme environments in the planet from the Amazon Rainforest to Yellowstone’s acidic, boiling waters to Alaska’s frozen lakes searching for new biodiversity and interconnecting science with indigenous knowledge to create positive changes in the world.
An experienced creative and science writer, Rosa has authored multiple high-impact scientific publications and several magazine articles. More recently, she led the first submission of a scientific article in co-authorship with Ashaninka indigenous leaders.
Rosa has co-created the Interconnected educational program engaging hundreds of students with nature and sustainability. This program was featured in the National Geographic Annual Festival 2022 in Washington DC.
Rosa's compelling storytelling and expertise have illuminated international campaigns with National Geographic & Walt Disney, focusing on themes from plastic recycling to the beauty industry's sustainability. Additional collaborations range from creating bilingual space content with NASA and HITN-TV to featuring as an expert TV narrator in the Science Channel’s “Secrets in the Jungle”.
Rosa’s unique approach to blending indigenous knowledge with modern science has garnered her accolades, including “100 women BBC 2024”, the American Chemical Society CAS Leadership Award, the "50 People Changing the World" Title by The Explorers Club, the International Ambassador of the Ashaninka title, and as well as features in New York Times, CBS News, BBC, Caretas Ellos y Ellas (cover), Peru’s Channel 2 & 4, NPR, Science Friday, National Geographic Magazine, Forbes, ABC Studios, BCFM, Andina Perú, El Comercio, TreeHugger, BeeCulture, Ojo Publico, InfoBae, Reporte Climático TV México, and more.
Rosa (in yellow) traveling in a peke peke (traditional boat) along the Amazon River with her family in 1999