Greg Dwyer

Answer: It's possible there was an invitation that they declined. Given the experience on the other island, both were terrified about going back.

Greg Dwyer

Answer: It's not really mentioned what they were doing. However, they weren't in the film because they weren't in the book, although Grant is mentioned briefly, talking to Richard Levine about new fossil finds. Michael Crichton ended up writing the sequel book after the success of the film. He decided to bring Ian Malcolm back (despite being declared dead in the epilogue of the first book) because he needed him, as the "ironic commentator", and said he could do without the other characters. So his story just focuses on Malcolm going to Isla Sorna. Although, in the book Malcolm goes to rescue Levine after he's reportedly went missing on the island and in the movie Levine isn't even a character.