Team
Global Science adventurers
Discover our expeditions
Explore the Fleet
Paola Catapano
Project leader & science communicator
Paola Catapano is a science communicator at CERN, science journalist, arctic and antarctic reporter, Polarquest project manager and much more.
Mike Struik
Technical Coordinator & Aerial photographer
Mike Struik is an aeronautical engineer, adventure photographer, arctic reporter, delta and drone pilot.
Gianluca Casagrande
Scientific Coordinator & Drone Pilot
Gianluca Casagrande is an Associate Professor and the Scientific Director of Geographic Research and Application Laboratory (European University of Rome).
Kevin Monneron
Engineer and Diver
Kevin Monneron is an engineer, free diver and a scientific and technical support with a passion for adventure.
Katarina Anthony
Science communicator
Katarina Anthony is a science communicator at the ATLAS Experiment at CERN, arctic journalist and website developer.
Rosy Mondardini
Citizen Science Guru
Paul Pietzcker
Skipper - Blob
Jeanne Longlune
Skipper - Blob
Peter Gallinelli
Nanuq Skipper
Naval architect and Genevan explorer Peter Gallinelli, skipper on the Polarquest2018 expedition
Safiria Buono
Skipper - Safiria
Christian Cinetto
Film maker
Christian Cinetto is an Italian film director, writer, and previously a Red Bull TV executive producer. He often looks for unique stories of men and women in strong environments.
Stefano Aliani
Microplastic scientist
Stefano Aliani is the scientific leader of the Microplastic project, as well as a marine biologist, Microplastic international expert, and member of POLARNET.
Ombretta Pinazza
Cosmic Ray Scientist
Ombretta is a researcher at INFN Bologna and working at CERN as an expert in detector control systems. She is also an expert mountaineer and amateur sailor.
Valeria Catapano
PhD student in Molecular Biology
Valeria is a student with the University of Geneva. For her MSc thesis, she developed primer sets to identify sea turtle e-DNA. She analysed Polarquest2018’s arctic micro-plastics samples at the CNR Marine Lab. Before starting her PhD, she obtained a research grant at Milano Bicocca to take part in an e-DNA sampling in the Mediterranean. Her interest for science was sparked by her participation in the MiniDarwin expedition at 11 years.
Elias Meier
Student Environmental Sciences
Elias Meier is a student of Environmental Sciences with and is prone to outdoor-activities and affinity for eDNA. He will be helping with the eDNA and Methane-CO2 sampling.
Christel Hassler
E-DNA & Methane/CO2 researcher
Christel Hassler is a senior scientist in charge of the E-DNA and Methane-CO2 research projects. She is scientific collaborator with the Swiss Polar Institute.
Dominik Palgan
Oceanography & Seafloor mapping expert
Dominik Palgan is a marine geologist & oceanographer from the University of Gdansk, specialist for seafloor mapping, operating Norbit multibeam sonar and analysing data.
Aleksandra Kruss
Oceanographer
A Svalbard veteran working for NORBIT_SUBSEA and CNR ISMAR, Venice, Aleksandra is a an oceanographer and underwater acoustic expert.