Lindblad Launches Inaugural Arctic Visiting Scientist Program

Lindblad Expeditions, in collaboration with National Geographic, has announced the launch of the inaugural Arctic season of the Visiting Scientist Program. This marks a significant expansion of the initiative that was first piloted over a decade ago. The program aims to facilitate vital research, data collection, and sample analysis by providing a platform for scientists to conduct field-based projects in the Arctic region. The program represents the culmination of Lindblad Expeditions’ 50 years of experience in exploring the unique geography of the Arctic, merging science with tourism, and leveraging the expertise of National Geographic.

The Visiting Scientist Program was successfully implemented earlier this year in Antarctica and the Southern Ocean, with 23 scientists conducting research for seven projects. Building on this success, Lindblad Expeditions-National Geographic has now extended the program to the Arctic region. The Endurance and Resolution, the two newest polar-class vessels in the Lindblad Expeditions-National Geographic fleet, will serve as the home base for the visiting scientists and their research teams during the Arctic season.

To select the projects and scientists for the Arctic season, Lindblad Expeditions facilitated a rigorous application review process. The candidates were evaluated by the Lindblad Expeditions Expedition Science Committee, comprising experienced natural history staff with extensive field research backgrounds. In a first-time collaboration, Lindblad Expeditions also worked with the National Geographic Society to recruit and select visiting scientists. Over half of the projects for the Arctic season are led by National Geographic Explorers and have undergone review and vetting by the National Geographic Society, an organization that has been supporting groundbreaking scientists and explorers since 1888.

The selected visiting scientists will undertake nine projects during the 2023 Arctic Season, focusing on various aspects of Arctic research. The projects include studies on seabirds, marine ice nucleation, microplastics, intertidal ecosystems, zoonosis, and historical climate change using coralline algae, among others. These projects aim to make a significant scientific impact while enhancing the experience of Lindblad Expeditions’ guests.

The Arctic expeditions provide these explorers with access to remote locations and offer opportunities for innovative science and conservation efforts to better understand and protect the Arctic region.

Ashley Knight, Fleet Science and Dive Operations Manager at Lindblad Expeditions, highlighted the unique educational opportunity that the Visiting Scientist Program offers by explaining that traveling alongside a visiting scientist allows guests to engage in one-on-one discussions, gain in-depth knowledge about ongoing research projects, and even participate in scientific activities such as data and specimen collection. The sense of community and the culture of curiosity on board the Lindblad Expeditions-National Geographic fleet create an exceptional learning environment for both scientists and guests.

The launch of the Visiting Scientist Program in the Arctic demonstrates Lindblad Expeditions’ commitment to promoting scientific exploration and fostering a deeper understanding of the fragile Arctic ecosystem. By combining the expertise of visiting scientists with the passion for exploration shared by Lindblad Expeditions and National Geographic, this program aims to contribute valuable knowledge to the scientific community and inspire conservation efforts to protect the Arctic for future generations.