In one of the most remote and pristine environments on Earth, EYOS Expeditions recently joined forces with the National Geographic Society’s Perpetual Planet Southern Ocean Expedition. The expedition’s primary platform was the Schmidt Ocean Institute (SOI) vessel RV Falkor Too, a state-of-the-art research vessel funded through philanthropy and provided to science programs around the world. The team embarked on an ambitious mission to explore and document the fragile ecosystems of Antarctica and the Southern Ocean—regions vital to understanding the impacts of climate change and environmental shifts.
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Navigating Uncharted Waters
EYOS Expeditions played a pivotal role in facilitating the success of this groundbreaking project. To support the expedition’s demanding fieldwork, EYOS provided an experienced Expedition Leader to guide ice and shore landings safely and sustainably. Our team’s expertise ensured compliance with IAATO protocols while enabling National Geographic Explorers to uncover critical insights into the Southern Ocean’s marine processes and its resilient yet vulnerable inhabitants.
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A Critical Mission for a Changing Planet
The Perpetual Planet Southern Ocean Expedition is a key initiative of the National Geographic Society, aiming to shed light on the critical yet understudied marine ecosystems of the Southern Ocean. The scientists and explorers onboard are documenting the region’s vital processes and working to develop solutions for the escalating impacts of climate change. This research will not only expand our understanding of this remote wilderness but also drive actionable strategies to protect it for future generations.
The project brings together six pioneering studies to explore the critical interconnections between Antarctica’s ecosystems and the planet’s health. From uncovering methane-eating microbes that sustain life and mitigate greenhouse gases to investigating the profound role of polar microbes in carbon cycling and oxygen production, these efforts highlight Antarctica’s pivotal role in global climate regulation. Researchers are probing the mysteries of krill behavior in deep-sea and icy habitats, assessing the effects of ice loss on benthic ecosystems as carbon sinks, and documenting the cascading impacts of warming seas on biodiversity. Simultaneously, the project addresses the urgent threat of avian influenza, which endangers the region’s iconic marine birds and mammals.
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Charting the Future
As this phase of the expedition concludes, the journey is far from over. The team will next venture to the Bellinghausen Sea near the Antarctic Peninsula. There, they will embark on an unprecedented effort to create high-resolution maps of this largely uncharted region. By documenting marine life and environmental conditions, these maps will become a cornerstone for future conservation and research efforts.
EYOS Expeditions is honored to support this monumental project, leveraging decades of polar expertise to empower scientific discovery. When asked about the expedition, EYOS co-founder Rob McCallum noted that, “our planet faces challenges that only robust scientific research can unravel. Using the polar expertise of EYOS, with the science and outreach capabilities of our expedition partners, gives a tremendous capability to conduct research in remote and hostile environments.”
With a shared commitment to environmental stewardship and exploration, EYOS, the Schmidt Ocean Institute, and National Geographic are opening new frontiers in understanding the planet’s most remote and vulnerable ecosystems.
