From July 19th to 20th, 2025, a dedicated workshop on “Floating Platforms / Sailing for Science” was held in Waalem (Föhr, Germany), bringing together a diverse group of scientists, engineers, and sailing vessel operators to explore the role of sailing and drifting platforms in advancing polar science. The event was co-organized by the Swiss Polar Institute (Daniele Rod) and the Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute / Alfred Wegener Institute (Antje Boetius), and included a strong representation from the Antarctica InSync community.
The main objective of the workshop was to identify opportunities for sailing and drifting platforms to support year-round, circumpolar, and synchronous observations in Antarctica and the Southern Ocean—a central ambition of Antarctica InSync. Over two days of engaging discussions and presentations, participants examined the advantages, limitations, and future potential of “sailing for science” across a wide range of polar research topics.
Participants emphasized the growing importance of sailing vessels in polar science—not only for their cost-efficiency and flexibility but also for their ability to reach remote and under-observed areas. Advances in miniaturized sensors, plug-and-play systems, and citizen science integration were identified as key enablers for increasing the scientific value of such platforms.
The workshop concluded with a session on enhancing collaboration across the polar community, including logistics, education, permitting, and communication. As a key outcome, participants committed to producing a white paper outlining the scientific themes, technologies, and collaborative frameworks needed to fully integrate sailing platforms into future Antarctica InSync activities.
This initiative marks an important step forward in aligning unconventional yet powerful platforms—like sailing vessels—with the goals of Antarctica InSync. By broadening our observational capacities and connecting communities across disciplines and latitudes, these efforts will help shape the future of polar science.
Antje Boetius (Chair of the Antarctica InSync Steering Board), Alex Haumann and Stephanie Arndt (Scientific Leaders of Antarctica InSync) participated in Workshop.
copyright: ©2025 Kristina Dolezych / Waalem GmbH & Co. KG, all rights reserved
