Science at Sea
Taking Knowledge Further
Get an inside look at innovative science and conservation projects
The ships in the National Geographic-Lindblad Expeditions fleet are not only equipped for adventure—they also host important research and conservation work as part of the Visiting Scientist Program. This innovative initiative allows scientists to use the fleet as a platform to build and foster their research endeavors in places like Antarctica, the Arctic and Galápagos.
The Visiting Scientist Program has been active for years, and in response to the program’s popularity with guests, National Geographic-Lindblad Expeditions is expanding it for the upcoming travel seasons. Now, more travelers than ever before can voyage alongside fascinating researchers, enjoy talks on their findings and, in some instances, participate in the scientific process through activities such as data collection.
New and Ongoing Research Projects
National Geographic-Lindblad Expeditions has supported projects that take place all over the world. From manta rays to microbes and microplastics, we are excited to support and collaborate on research projects in regions where our fleet explores.
Ocean Studies
SENTRY: Arctic microbial diversity as living sentinels in a changing ocean
SENTRY investigates how Arctic microorganisms reflect ongoing changes in a rapidly warming ocean. Using samples from sea ice and seawater, this project establishes microbial cultures to better understand their diversity and responses to shifting conditions. By building a living collection of these organisms, SENTRY creates a long-term resource for tracking biodiversity change. Cultures support future research and help reveal how polar marine ecosystems are being reshaped over time. National Geographic Explorer Catherine Ribeiro and her team join the National Geographic Resolution in Svalbard and Coastal Norway for this project.
Ocean Studies
Polar microbial primary productivity around the Svalbard Archipelago
Arctic marine algae living in sea ice and the upper ocean are tiny powerhouses, using carbon dioxide and sunlight to produce oxygen and food for larger polar organisms. This project measures oxygen dynamics and diversity to better understand what controls variations in microbial assemblages and their productivity. Samples of surface seawater will be analyzed for microbial biodiversity, cell abundance and changes in oxygen production. National Geographic Explorer Allison Fong joins the National Geographic Resolution in Svalbard for this project.
Ocean Studies
Microbial gateways of the North Atlantic: Examining sub-Arctic plankton
This project investigates the microbial community composition in sub-Arctic marine waters surrounding Iceland and Greenland to better understand biodiversity patterns in rapidly changing environments. Surface seawater samples will be filtered to capture microscopic plankton, followed by molecular analysis to characterize the species assemblage. Environmental data, including temperature and salinity, inform how physical conditions shape plankton distributions in high-latitude settings. The project will also use specialized microscopy and imaging techniques to visually document plankton diversity and enhance outreach to broad audiences. National Geographic Explorer Gabrielle Corradino and her team join the NG Endurance in Iceland and Greenland for this project.
Ocean Studies
Ice melt and biological productivity at the edge of the Greenland ice sheet
Over the past few decades, Greenland’s ice sheet and coastal waters have undergone rapid changes. This project measures shifts in physical, chemical, and biological ocean properties along the Greenland coastline. Objectives include investigating how ocean temperature changes are linked with glacier ice loss and determining how summertime ice sheet melt is altering nutrient availability for algae growth. Understanding connections between these processes is important for quantifying how Arctic marine ecosystems will evolve in the future. Dr. Mike Wood joins the National Geographic Resolution in Greenland for this project.
Environment
Long-term monitoring of rocky shore temperatures and biodiversity
Coastal ecosystems can be exceptionally challenging, exposing organisms to extreme and constantly changing environmental conditions as well as heightened climate change vulnerability. The CCTBON project is a decades-long monitoring program assessing temperature and biodiversity on hundreds of Atlantic rocky shores, including the severely understudied polar and tropical regions. This long-term effort provides crucial data improving understanding of links between temperature and biodiversity while uncovering climate change impacts on intertidal ecosystems. National Geographic Explorer Rui Seabra and his team join the National Geographic Resolution in Svalbard and Coastal Norway for this project.
Environment
Ice at the edge: Walls of change
The single largest source of uncertainty in projections of sea level rise is the speed at which the Greenland and Antarctic ice sheets will retreat. The structural processes that control ice stability (how tall can cliffs get? how do they hold themselves together?) are not (yet) well understood. Observations of ice cliffs, where the ice sheets meet the ocean, are essential. The main objective of this project is to opportunistically observe coastal glacier cliffs and icebergs, and document their changing faces. National Geographic Explorer Catherine Walker joins the National Geographic Endurance in Greenland for this project.
Environment
Mapping microplastics and microfibers in water and air
Rozalia Project for a Clean Ocean has been investigating the problem of microplastic and microfiber pollution and developing solutions for a decade. One of those solutions is CSI for the Ocean: A Global Citizen Science Microplastic Mapping and Monitoring Program. As part of this effort, the research team leads guests in exploring microplastics and anthropogenic microfibers that could be floating on the ocean’s surface or suspended in the air. National Geographic Explorer Rachael Miller joins the National Geographic Endurance in Iceland, Greenland and Scotland for this project.
