Sailing for Science

How much value does citizen science add to a cruise? It's a question we should all be asking and it is one that was answered for me 12 years ago when, in the Bay of Biscay, I saw a whale in European waters for the first time. It was a thrill to focus pin-sharp binoculars on its flinty fin and know with absolute certainty that the whale was a humpback. Had it not been for the marine mammal surveyors who were on board with the wildlife charity Orca, I would’ve missed the whale.

Thanks partly to partnerships with ferries and cruise ships Orca contributes to several high-level global conservation initiatives. That week, I attended talks and spent around four hours on deck. I learnt more about whales and their behaviour than I had in decades of travelling.

Back then, citizen science, as this type of on-board experience is known, was still in its infancy. Now, most expedition ships will have at least one if not several, ongoing projects in which passengers can get involved, from counting ripples in the Aurora Borealis in Norway to gathering phytoplankton samples in Antarctica. We are no longer content with seeing; we want to be “doing” or, at the very least, learning. 

Citizen science has brought science down from its ivory tower. Generous with their time and knowledge the field experts in marine biology, zoology, whales and dolphins (cetaceans), birds, penguins, and geology I’ve met on board ships have been a huge asset. Their knowledge and experiences have been insightful and enriching. 

“Most people booking an expedition cruise are likely curious and environmentally aware. They’re potential ambassadors who can continue their involvement in science projects at home,” said Viking Polaris' chief scientist, Jason Heydon, on my cruise in Antarctica this year. Guests are getting a holistic experience, and we’re getting real science done.”