Citizen Science Travel

Safety and Accessibility Considerations

Collecting the samples was not difficult because it was technical; it was difficult because of the environment.

It was cold and windy on the monkey deck, and the ship was constantly moving with the swells. The stairs were slick with rain or ocean spray, and injuries, mishaps, or collection mistakes could easily happen. So I moved slowly and deliberately, kept one hand on the railing at all times, and protected the glass flask with the other.

If you are considering a trip where guests can help with research, this is a good reminder that “citizen science” can be as simple as opening a valve or taking a measurement. However, it may happen in real expedition conditions, where steady footing, cold weather gear, and comfort with motion on a ship matter just as much as the task itself.

Make sure to ask lots of questions about what will be expected of you as a citizen scientist. Only accept the role if you know you are physically up for any potential challenges.

Understanding Global Warming and Carbon Dioxide Sinks

I was asked to collect 9 air samples for a study Dr. Jocelyn Turnbull was conducting on carbon dioxide ‘sinks’. I told you that I wasn’t great in science, so I asked Dr. Turnbull to explain what a carbon dioxide sink is and what her research was about.

“We all know that it [global warming] comes from the burning of fossil fuels (coal, oil, and natural gas), which produce carbon dioxide, which goes into the atmosphere, which makes the world warmer. What you may not know is that of the carbon dioxide we produce from fossil fuels, only about half stays in the atmosphere,” explained Dr. Turnbull.