Jan
Bryde
Researcher, Shipowner and Testimonials
Brand ambassador Jan Bryde
Mr. Bryde, why do you support Citizen Science Cruises?
Travellers no longer just want to be consumers. The trend now is towards more sensible travel models. I think travelling can make the world a better place.
Mr. Bryde, tell us something about the planned research vessel
The initial plan was to purchase an already existing research vessel such as the MS Walter Herwig III. However, we found that the available research ships are just too small in terms of passenger capacity. We want to cater for more than 25 citizen scientists being able to carry out their research on board.
Mr. Bryde, what is your favourite destination?
Once you get to know Antarctica, that's the only place it can be. I love both the Earth's poles, but Antarctica is much more impressive when it comes to the animal life.
Mr. Bryde, can one still experience adventure while travelling?
Of course. Citizen Science Cruises targets the niche of real expeditions by conducting research voyages. And these are real expeditions with destinations defined by research projects. A cruise involving excursions with inflatables, as offered by many established tour operators, cannot be considered as a real expedition.
Puskeppeleit
Exporer for Citizen Science
Dr. med. Monika Puskeppeleit MPH
Monika Petra Puskeppeleit is a German physician, health care manager, and scientific researcher with a special interest in medicine in remote areas, and particularly in polar regions. She is the first German physician and station manager of the first all-woman team to overwinter in Antarctica (Wikipedia.org/Monika_Puskeppeleit). We asked her the following four questions:
Dr. Puskeppeleit, why did you get involved in the founding of Citizen Science Cruises?
I believe education is the key to peace and prosperity. We are all facing an absolutely necessary social transformation. Consumerism and a sole focus on economic growth are a one-way street. This also applies to the travel sector. Our mission is to enable citizens to contribute to research on expeditions.
Dr. Puskeppeleit, what fascinates you most about the polar regions?
The results of our research familiarises society with the fascination and uniqueness of the poles, and to their vulnerability. The North Pole and South Pole are not just unique natural assets that should be spared of the mining of raw materials or rare earth metals. The 15th UN Conference on Endangered Species (COP 15) in Montreal in December 2022, chaired by China, decided for the first time to place large areas of the polar seas and oceans under protection. 196 contracting states have adopted a convention on the biological diversity of the earth.
Dr. Puskeppeleit, are Citizen Science Cruises sustainable?
Environmentally benign tourism is sustainable. Our research ship will be equipped with the latest eco-friendly propulsion technology such as LNG and fuel cells. Creating awareness of the fragility of our environment through citizen science is sustainable.
Dr. Puskeppeleit, how can I become a Citizen Scientist?
Anyone can become a citizen scientist. Exciting citizen research means making citizens as research equals. Our Citizen Scientists support research on board throughout their sea voyage. 10% of the cost of the cruise goes into the research pot, so that research independent of the university is also made possible. So why not book a citizen science cruise and come on board?
Markus
Wilhelm
Shipowner Dr. med Markus Wilhelm
Divestment
Markus Wilhelm is an anaesthesiologist and was one of the first shipowners. He works in the interdisciplinary emergency room of the Erding County Hospital. We asked him the following four questions:
Dr. Wilhelm, why are you a shipowner with Citizen Science Cruises?
I am convinced of the concept of offering research voyages to scientific laypeople. In particular, the MOSAIC expedition, during which the research vessel MS Polarstern became icelocked in the Arctic, has brought the topic of research vessels more into the focus of our society. Many dream of being able to charter a research vessel. Doing research voluntarily, i.e. being active yourself or just watching the researchers. is just a great feeling.
Dr. Wilhelm, when do you go on board?
As a shipowner, I get the benefit of using the shipowner's cabin once a year. I will announce myself as soon as the new ship construction is complete. As shipowners, we also meet regularly and discuss the research on board and the various areas of application. We are a diverse community. The right to use the owner's cabin is the return on the shares I invest in Citizen Science Cruises. But this is not the only advantage.
Dr. Wilhelm, what specific benefits are you referring to?
Free cabins are distributed to the shipowners free-of-charge and there is a 50% discount on shore excursions. But regardless of one's own advantages, we are talking about a cross generational divestment. That means my investment and thus its return will be passed on to the next generation.
Dr. Wilhelm, what does divestment mean?
In April 2015, around 100 doctors called on the Berlin Medical Care organisation to divest. This is where the word divestment originated. For example, shares in companies that generate more than 25 percent of their sales from coal-fired power generation were excluded from the capital investment. Citizen Science Cruises joined the divestment initiative. Through the research results, we actively contribute to raising public awareness of sustainable action, sustainable investments, and sustainable travel.
