Hurtigruten presented at the 2020 Scientific Committee on Antarctic Research’s (SCAR) Open Science Conference this month, sharing its knowledge and experience of hosting and collaborating with scientists, and the benefits of its onboard Citizen Science programs to raising awareness of the challenges facing the Polar regions.
The Open Science Conference is a biennial event designed to draw attention to Antarctic issues and provide an opportunity for scientists from a variety of disciplines and countries to present their work, network and become more involved in SCAR science activities.
Hurtigruten has a long history of scientific collaboration in Antarctica including gathering Antarctic seabird distribution data, participating in the Happy Whale tracking program and the Sea Leopard project, assisting with phytoplankton and krill research, and providing logistical support for the British Antarctic survey and the UK Antarctic Heritage Trust. Hurtigruten is also an active member of IAATO, an organisation that advocates and promotes safe and environmentally-responsible travel to the Antarctic.
The 2020 Open Science Conference was originally scheduled to be held in Hobart, Australia, but due to the Covid-19 pandemic it was transformed into a digital conference with plenary speakers, mini symposia, discussions and presentations from experts around the world participating online over five days.
Biologist and Hurtigruten Chief Scientist Verena Meraldi’s presentation focused on a range of Hurtigruten scientific collaborations as well as the contribution of Hurtigruten’s Citizen Science programs to raising awareness about the Polar regions.
“Our contribution introduced our expedition ships as platforms of opportunity – detailing our engagement with the scientific community including sharing results of the research carried out by our collaborators while onboard or by our guests while participating in Citizen Science projects led by our Expedition Staff members,” says Meraldi.
The presentation included details of Hurtigruten collaborations with organisations including AECO, IAATO, Norwegian Polar Institute, Norwegian Institute for Water Research, The University Centre in Svalbard, and Scripps Institute of Oceanography.
An abstract of the presentation will be included in the 2020 Open Science Conference book.
“This is great example of how Hurtigruten is heavily engaged with and participates in in-depth and authentic collaborative science with leading organisations globally,” says Damian Perry, Managing Director Hurtigruten Asia Pacific. “We are extremely proud of how our Expedition and Science teams support the scientific community, while at the same time offering our guests unique opportunities to learn more about the environments where we sail.”
.jpg){kind=tracking}