Dr. Charles Knapp

Board Member
John G. Shedd Aquarium

Dr. Charles Knapp, Director of Conservation and Research, began his career as an aquarist at the John G. Shedd Aquarium and now overseas Shedd’s ex situ and in situ conservation and research programs. He has over 20 years experience working with iguanas and conservation initiatives in the Caribbean.

Using endangered iguanas as model organisms, his research focuses primarily on understanding the effects of anthropogenic disturbance on endangered taxa and designing conservation strategies to prevent further population declines and habitat degradation. Chuck holds a bachelor’s degree in zoology, a master’s and Ph.D. in wildlife ecology and conservation, and served as a conservation research post-doctoral fellow at the San Diego Zoo Institute for Conservation Research. Chuck serves as the co-chair of the IUCN SSC Iguana Specialist Group.