Expeditions
From Svalbard to the Amazons
Polarquest 2018
Polarquest 2021
ARC 2026
Science Results
Adventures for the environment
From the Arctic ocean of Svalbard to the heart of the Amazon rainforest, our team has ventured around the world in scientific exploration. Discover our many projects on this page and learn how you can contribute to upcoming expeditions.
ARC 2026
Sailing science across the Atlantic
Lady Magellan’s 2026 Atlantic expedition unites an exceptional all-women crew of scientists, explorers, and professionals whose expertise spans physics, space science, neuroscience, media design, law, and global health.
Blending adventure with purpose, the team will sail across the Atlantic in November 2026 for the Atlantic Rally for Cruisers (ARC), from Las Palmas in the Canary Islands to Santa Lucia in the Antilles.
Under the PolarQuest’s Fleet4Science flag, the expedition is aimed at collecting microplastic data and eDNA samples in various areas of the ocean. The project embodies the spirit of exploration, collaboration between women, and the pursuit of knowledge at sea.
Polarquest 2021
Save the White
Polarquest2021: Save the White was an Arctic research expedition to the Svalbard Archipelago carried out on board the record-breaking Best Explorer. Polarquest Association partnered with Arctic Sail Expeditions-Italia for the organization of this expedition.
The expedition explored the impact of human activity on the archipelago: sampling the driftwood and plastic we leave behind, and monitoring impact of climate change on biodiversity through eDNA sampling.
Polarquest2021 crossed the 80th parallel North, into uncharted waters in the Northeast of the Svalbard archipelago. The team carried out first-of-a-kind mapping by air and sea, giving testimony to the state of the Arctic environment in the northernmost regions of Svalbard.
nanuq 2020
Survey of Greenland’s coasts
An expedition and survey of the coasts of Greenland, visiting select places in order to describe its unique environment and features. The mission aimed for the Blosseville coast which, due to its volcanic origin, makes it very interesting to environmental science. Its unique ecosystems can give clues to future development induced by climate change.
Polarquest 2018
World-record mission around the Svalbard archipelago
Our iconic expedition! In 2018, Polarquest team carried out the complete circumnavigation of the entire Svalbard archipelago with a sailing boat.
Mission highlights:
- Recording of the world’s first sea-level cosmic radiation data up to the latitude of 82°07’N.
- First visit to the crash spot of the Italia airship, on its 90th anniversary.
- Detailed studies of micro and macro plastic pollution in the Arctic, including the record latitude sampling.
- First 3D mapping of the Northern Svalbard coasts using drones.
All 2018 Expedition Press Coverage
“Earth provides enough to satisfy every man’s needs, but not every man’s greed.”
―
previous Expeditions
From the Atacama desert to the Amazon rainforest, the team have covered the globe in their scientific explorations. Learn about these expeditions, carried out from 2006 to 2014 before the formal creation of the Polarquest Association:
- 2006: Mini-Darwin Expedition to the Galapagos
- 2008: Mini-Darwin Expedition to Italian Volcanoes
- 2010: Mini-Darwin Expedition to the Amazon
- 2014: A Nord di Capo Nord: Creating a documentary on the science based at Svalbard
- 2015: On the Road, Creating a documentary on the ESO telescopes in Chile