Jut Wynne

Jut Wynne, PhD(c), is a conservation biologist who has bushwacked through the jungles of Belize, rappelled into the deepest volcanic pit in Hawaii, endured the world’s driest desert in northern Chile, used cutting edge instruments onboard NASA aircraft, and traveled to the most remote inhabited place on earth, Easter Island - just to learn more about caves.

With training in wildlife ecology, entomology, and habitat modeling, Jut is enthusiastic about sharing the importance of scientific exploration and discovery with the general public and children of all ages.

Jut gives vivid, image-driven presentations about his scientific research and the importance of scientific exploration. His research has been featured on television, radio, and print media around the world, including NASA TV, USA Today and El Mercurio de Santiago.

Jut has conducted cave studies in Belize, Chile, Rapa Nui, Hawaii and throughout the American Southwest and other field research projects in Belgium, Belize, Bolivia, Mexico, Scotland and throughout the southern United States.  He has led over 40 research expeditions, served as supporting personnel on nearly 100 expeditions around the world, and carried the flag for the prestigious Explorers Club on 13 research expeditions.  

Research highlights to date by Jut and colleagues include the identification of three new genera and nearly 30 new species of cave-dwelling invertebrates from the southwestern U.S., 15 new species of insects from caves on Easter Island (Rapa Nui), a new species of algae from an Atacama Desert (Chile) cave, and some of the first cave-like features detected on Mars.  He even has a cave-dwelling Tenebrionid beetle with his namesake, Eleodes (Caverneleodes) wynnei.

Jut masterfully shares an authoritative, yet humorous tale of insects, caves and space exploration to an audience captivated by his research, where science fact and fiction become merged.

The Explore Foundation