Professor’s Passion for Biology Inspires Once-in-a-Lifetime Courses
Alejandro Vagelli was just a young student when he realized how critical fieldwork was to a genuine understanding of the natural world. The experiential learning opportunities he received as an undergraduate at the National University of La Plata in Argentina continue to shape his perspective today.
“The field trips in which I participated during my student years played a crucial role in my development as a scientist,” said Vagelli, former director of science and conservation for the Center for Aquatic Sciences and an associate member of the biology department at Rutgers University–Camden. “I believe that every future biologist should have the opportunity to understand the natural world through hands-on fieldwork.”
Vagelli has spent a lifetime traveling the globe and researching marine habitats and ecosystems, in addition to teaching and leading various travel abroad programs for Rutgers–Camden students throughout the school year.
A particular focus for Vagelli has been the study and preservation of the Banggai cardinalfish, an endangered species found exclusively in the Banggai archipelago in Indonesia. After he encountered two unidentified fish in the Indo-Pacific exhibit at the New Jersey State Aquarium (now Adventure Aquarium) in 1996, an extensive review of the scientific literature on coral reef fish led him to discover just a single page describing this unusual species from 1933.
Likely brought to New Jersey by a tropical fish enthusiast, Vagelli observed that they reproduced differently than most other coral reef species. That led him to travel to Indonesia multiple times to study the Banggai cardinalfish. He dedicated decades of work to this rare species, successfully arguing for its eventual identification as a protected species.
“Being in their natural environment provided valuable data and a significantly broader, more holistic understanding of the species," said Vagelli. "You cannot replicate that in a lab."
His experience researching and studying the Banggai cardinal fish reinforced his belief in the importance of fieldwork. At Rutgers–Camden, he has led students to far-flung places since 2014, creating opportunities to expand their understanding of what they learn in the classroom.
During the Winter 2025 semester, he will be traveling with students to Patagonia, where students will spend six days at the La Esperanza Wildlife Refuge surveying intertidal communities, learning wildlife management and monitoring techniques, conducting paleontological surveys of Miocene marine deposits, and conducting fossil identification.
In the summer of 2025, Vagelli will lead students on an expedition to the Galápagos Islands. Students will survey at least ten islands—including those visited by Charles Darwin—snorkel in shallow bays, see distinct coastal communities, and learn about ecological processes and unique animal behaviors.
Alexis Winters CCAS'24 participated in three expeditions with Vagelli while she was a biology student at Rutgers–Camden, traveling to Patagonia, the Galapagos Islands, and the Amazon rainforest.
“I've never experienced such biodiversity in my life; everywhere you looked, there was a new species to observe,” said Winters. “Being in the home of the theory of evolution was a once-in-a-lifetime experience and gave me a deeper appreciation and understanding of the work I was doing at the time in the lab at Rutgers–Camden.”
For Vagelli, that is the point.
"Fieldwork helps build a sense of connection with nature," said Vagelli. "When you are interacting with the natural world, and it is all around you, it provokes questions—the scientific method made real—and that is the essence of learning."
