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Latest News & Press
Lady Magellan Safety at Sea Training
Helen Morris, one of the all-women crew of Lady Magellan for the ARC 2026 Atlantic crossing—PolarQuest next major expedition—shares her experience of sea survival training on Lake Geneva.
Sailing Report: the Atlantic on board Lady Magellan
PolarQuest’s young scientists Elena Gazzarrini shares her experience and impressions during the sailing trip from la Rochelle (FR) to Ribadero (ES).
Un nouveau bateau dans la Fleet4Science
Polarquest rencontre à La Rochelle Vladimir Charles à bord du 33 Export, le mythique voilier de la course au large française.
From the Higgs Boson to UN Plastic Pollution Negotiations
Read Paola Catapano’s article published on Societa’ Italiana di Fisica (SIF) Prima Pagina on how artificial intelligence techniques, originally developed for Higgs boson data analysis at CERN, are now being employed to accelerate global plastic pollution negotiations spearheaded by the United Nations.
CERN technology showcased in context of UN Plastic Treaty discussions
AI data analysis techniques developed at CERN were showcased during a side event of INC-5.2.
UN Plastic Treaty INC-5.2 – Side Event
The Polarquest Association, in partnership with CERN’s project Edge spAIce, organises a side event of the UN Plastic Treaty INC-5.2 at CERN’s Ideasquare and online to show how citizen science, supported by novel AI techniques, can help combat global plastic pollution.
The fight against plastic bags in Africa
Andrea Micozzi, a master’s student in theoretical physics at Sapienza University and contributor to Treccani, writes from Tanzania about the continent’s leading role in the fight against plastic waste—and what it reveals about our own habits.
BioBlitz activity report
On May 23, 2025, three vessels of the newly formed Fleet4Science teamed up with the Department of Environmental and Earth Sciences of the University of Milano-Bicocca to take part in the Spot-The-Monk campaign—an effort to monitor the elusive Mediterranean monk seal through environmental DNA (eDNA) sampling. This collaborative operation brought together marine biologists, sailboat owners, young students, and passionate science communicators in a unique blend of research, adventure, and public engagement.
How Citizen Science can change wildlife conservation through eDNA monitoring
The Mediterranean monk seal, once widespread, is now critically endangered and mostly found in remote caves. A new study highlights how citizen science and eDNA monitoring—using the BioBlitz method—are helping conservationists track and protect this elusive species.
our Events
How to Become a Science Adventurer with Paola Catapano
Paola Catapano of Polarquest talks on “La Fisica Che Ci Piace” about her science adventures in the remotes corners of the Planet.
Paola Catapano on Radio Deejay tells about her book 80th parallel, the story of Polarquest 2018 expedition
Journalist Daniele Bossari interviews Paola during his radio show Il boss del weekend. They chat about Paola’s book Ottantesimo Parallelo, the 2018 expedition to Svalbard and beyond and the importance of the Arctic for the balance of our planet’s climate.
Book tour for 80th Parallel!
Polarquest lead Paola Catapano embarks on book tour for “Ottantesimo Parellelo” (80th Parallel) in Italy and Switzerland!
Preliminary scientific results of Polarquest2021 Save The White Expedition at Societa Geografica Italiana in Rome
Presentation to APS-IF – Physics Matters
Polarquest2021 Save The White Expedition – presentation to American Physical society International Forum – Physics Matters
Presentation to APS-IF – Physics Matters
Public Talk: Polarquest en Arctique
16 Sept ’21: Team members Paola Catapano, Mike Struik and Kevin Monneron give a talk on Polarquest missions at IUT Tarbes, France.
Webinar The Pole And Beyond
12 May ’21: Presentation of “The Pole and Beyond” The future commercial opportunities of a new and environment-friendly way to travel
Webinar Shadow of NORGE
7 May ’21: Presentation of the latest results of the Cosmic Ray research on board Polarquest2018
Public Talk: In Search of the Airship Italia
15 Jan 2021: Online talk with the Arctic Observatory: “Alla ricerca del Dirigibile Italia” with Polarquest’s Paola Catapano, and Giuseppe Biagi and Roberto Sparapani of L’Italia al Polo Nord.
Premiere of Nanuq Documentary
16 Dec 2020: First screening of Nanuq, An Arctic Journey from Past to Future on Mediaset/Focus Canale 32 – a new documentary on the Polarquest 2018 expedition.