24 | Viking Explorer Society News
Travel writer Ben Olsen learns how the valuable scientific endeavours carried out
on board Viking expedition ships encourages a closer connection with one of the
world's most striking destinations.
Spirit of discovery
SCIENCE IN ANTARCTICA
Whether it's inspiring new vistas, cultures or
dishes, setting sail for new horizons always
brings with it the promise of thrilling
discoveries. Yet on an expedition to the icy
expanses of Antarctica, immersed in
landscapes shaped by towering icebergs,
snow-capped mountains and sightings of
Gentoo penguins, humpback whales and
hourglass dolphins, I find it's the discovery of
something far less tangible—and nearly
invisible to the naked eye—that leaves the
most profound impact.
We were midway through a 13-day
expedition on board the Viking Polaris, which,
after departing the remote Argentine city of
Ushuaia, had charted a course south across
the legendary Drake Passage, skirting the
South Shetland Islands before reaching the
Antarctic Peninsula. Already we'd witnessed
the wonder of what is called "the last great
wilderness." We admired brilliant snowscapes
and fast-moving skies dotted with blue
petrels and skuas. We experienced a sense of
complete serenity and remoteness, with not a
soul to be seen for miles.
As one of the world's most hard-to-reach
environments, very few have experienced the
stark isolation of Earth's southern extent,
making it of huge significance to the world of
science—something that Viking, in equipping
its expedition ships, recognizes more than
most travel companies. "Relative to the rest of
the world, we still know so little about
Antarctica," says Dr. Daniel Moore, Viking
chief scientist. He explained how—away from
the handful of research bases on Antarctica's
fringes—there remain huge gaps in
knowledge of this region, providing endless
opportunities for new research. "On the
Viking Polaris, we have scientists and
assistants dedicated to the pursuit of
scientific exploration. It is really rare for a
cruise company to commit resources to
science."
The state-of-the-art laboratories and
equipment on the two expedition ships, the
Viking Polaris and the Viking Octantis, provide
a platform for the world's leading scientists
to engage in research through partnerships
with high-profile academic institutions,
including the University of Cambridge, the
Cornell Lab of Ornithology and the Scripps
Institution of Oceanography. Guests are also
invited to contribute to the research
conducted on board. So, in addition to
experiencing Antarctica's memorable
highlights such as observing seldom-seen
wildlife and setting foot on the world's
seventh continent, there's the chance to gain
a far deeper understanding of the region.
This comes into sharp focus as I peer over the
edge of our Zodiac, reeling in a seawater
sample as part of a NASA-sponsored project
monitoring the effect of glacial melt on
phytoplankton. As our project leader Holly
explains, these tiny marine organisms are an
essential part of the food chain, with changes
to their population having significant effects
on life on Earth. "Oceans don't see country
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