Citizen Science
Citizen Science on Every Voyage
Having a Citizen Science program on every voyage is an effort we first pioneered in 2013 and it continues to give our passengers an opportunity to play a small but meaningful role in recording and better understanding the increasing impact of climate change. This is particularly helpful in the Antarctic, where we support long-term academic observation teams that would find it nearly impossible to be as ever-present on their own.
The projects offered may vary slightly by voyage and scientific need. Everyone is welcome to participate. If you are interested, please see the onboard daily bulletin and join the scheduled Citizen Science Introduction Meeting at the start of your voyage. There is no additional cost.
Ongoing Projects
Counting Penguins With Oceanites
We’re proud to announce that Oceanites has selected us as their partner for this, their 30th anniversary year of recording penguin populations in Antarctica. We’ll be providing assistance as they continue their critical mission: helping to ensure a positive future for Antarctica’s most beloved citizens.
Cloud Observations for NASA Globe Observer
By observing and recording cloud cover & type timed to NASA satellite fly-overs, we help scientists understand how surface and air temperature are affected by cloud cover, and how clouds respond to a changing climate.
Collecting Salp Data for Alfred Wegener Institute
Salp are free-swimming invertebrates that feed on phytoplankton. We will collect baseline data of Salp distribution and collect a specimen for genetic species determination. The data we collect will help scientists of the Alfred Wegener Institute explore how this might be linked to a changing climate.
Seabird Surveys for Stony Brook University
We complete at-sea and on-shore surveys for Stoney Brook University to study the distribution, population, and breeding events of birds in the Southern Ocean and along the Antarctic Peninsula.
Phytoplankton Data for Scripps Institution of Oceanography
By collecting phytoplankton samples in fjord systems along the Antarctic Peninsula, we help scientists obtain a seasonal picture of phytoplankton abundance, composition, and distribution, as well as how phytoplankton are influenced by (increasing) melt-water inflow from glaciers.
Identifying Whales for Happy Whale and the International Whaling Commission
We photograph unique identifiable markings on a whale’s fluke (tail) and dorsal fin, so Happy Whale can non-invasively track their movements over time. By focusing on whales, we bring attention to the marine ecosystem as a whole and the challenges we face as a global community.
Southern Ocean Sampling for Scripps Institution of Oceanography
We measure the surface water temperature and salinity during crossings between Ushuaia and the Peninsula, and between South Georgia and the Peninsula. This data contributes to a study of the long-term temperature and salinity trends of the Southern Ocean.
Organizations We Support & Collaborate With:
