April 2021 marks an entire month where people around the world are celebrating Citizen Science Month. The citizen science project I co-founded and manage – FjordPhyto – is celebrating too by sharing our work and collaborations occurring in Antarctica between scientists and travelers on tour ships.
Collaborations in this part of the world are incredibly important for increasing our understanding of changes in the polar regions. To get a sense of this importance, my colleague and FjordPhyto scientist Martina Mascioni and social scientist Daniela Cajiao wrote a post about the role of Tour Operators in Polar Research.
I hope you enjoy watching these interviews. I think I’m getting better and better at this each time đ Please share the links with a friend, a colleague, your kids, or fellow traveler! I would love to know your thoughts and questions if you want to comment below.
Follow an informative conversation focused on citizen science as Dr. Damon Stanwell-Smith, Head of Science and Sustainability for Viking Expeditions, is joined by polar guide Laura Smith and biological oceanographer Allison Cusick. We discuss the role of future expedition voyages, understanding how citizen science contributes to research, what factors make it successful, how guests can participate and why it is relevant to global environmental conservation.
SciStarterâs Caroline Nickerson speaks with Tour Operator Hurtigruten Expeditionsâ Chief Scientists Dr. Verena Meraldi and citizen science project FjordPhyto co-founder and PhD graduate student Allison Cusick about how Antarctic travelers are contributing to polar research through ship-based citizen science
SciStarter’s Caroline Nickerson leads us around the world speaking to project leaders from Asia, Africa, Antarctica, Australia, Europe, North America, and South America (for Antarctica see minutes 17:07 to 25:55)!
How can you get involved:
For projects occurring around your neighborhood, be sure to check out the web-based catalogue of thousands of project at SciStarter.
Whats in a name?
For those of you wondering why there are so many terms for people-powered science – “citizen science” , “community science” , “crowdsource science” – take a look at this blog post and publication in Citizen Science: Theory & Practice on which name to use and why terms matters.
The FjordPhyto citizen science project brings people together, because conservation is a “we”.
Everything you see is a work of art created by an actual person (or team of people). This short video about the efforts of the Antarctic citizen science project – FjordPhyto â was produced and directed by Gabriela Lamanna using video footage taken by Allison Cusick’s journeys to the Antarctic. We wanted to introduce you to Gaby and share her story. To share how she got involved with the FjordPhyto project, why she is obsessed with cold regions despite her upbringing in the tropics of El Salvador, and what her plans are after she completes her Masters degree from Scripps Institution of Oceanography.
Q:Gaby, What drew you to make a film for the
FjordPhyto project?
The minute I heard of FjordPhyto I was hooked! The fact that
people can participate in citizen science by collecting phytoplankton in
Antarctica is fascinating, everyone should know about this! I heard about the
Vernet Lab needing someone to create content with all the footage graduate
student Allison Cusick has from her expeditions in Antarctica, and there was no
way I wasnât saying yes!
I wanted to create a short video of FjordPhyto so that
people can learn about the project in little time, just a minute!
I envisioned incorporating multiple voices representing different
ethnicities and ages to narrate the story because I want the public to know
that anyone can participate in citizen science!
I love the sentiment, âyou protect what you loveâ, and if
people get involved with science, there is a higher chance of them deeply
understanding current problems like climate change. The more people fall in
love with conservation, the better we will all be at protecting ecosystems!
One of the reasons I find FjordPhyto so special is that it
brings people closer to researchers. I think there is a misconception that
scientists are unapproachable, but the truth is scientists are more relatable
than what people might think.
How fun is it that people can help them collect data and
contribute to polar research!? Now, I know going to Antarctica is not for
everyone, but I hope this video sparks curiosity to learn about other citizen
science projects close to you!
Q: How did you get
involved in ocean conservation and science storytelling?
When I tell people I have been completely fascinated with uncomfortably
cold places since I first saw snow at the age of 22, they exclaim in disbelief:
âBut you grew up in the tropics!â To that I respond, âthatâs exactly why!â. I
was fortunate enough to grow up in El Salvador, a place with warm weather
year-round, and even warmer people. My roots to the tropics are strong, but I
knew that if I wanted to protect the ocean, I had to leave home to pursue a
better education.
As soon as I graduated high school, I left to the United States to follow my dreams. I studied marine biology at Harriet L. Wilkes Honors College (Jupiter, Florida), where I had the blessing of having one of the best teachers I have ever met. His love for ocean conservation stuck with me to the point that I decided to pursue my masterâs in Marine Biodiversity and Conservation at Scripps Institution of Oceanography.
I have loved the ocean from a young age, especially the
animals in it. However, the origin of my true love started at 16 when I was
introduced to surfing. I realized, the
ocean gives us more than we can ever give back: waves to dance on, a place to
grieve loss, medicine to heal, and the best part: as long as you are near the
ocean, you will always have the curiosity of a child. You protect what you
love, so it is no wonder that I wanted to become a marine biologist.
However, as much as I love science, there was always
something missing for me. This all changed when I discovered science
storytelling.
Q: What was it like
growing up in El Salvador and how did this influence your creative outlets?
Being able to have a creative outlet means more to me than I
will ever be able to explain. I have never been the best at expressing myself
using words, but I am able to express myself through visuals.
Back in El Salvador schools work a little different. I went
to the same school for 15 years, in a class of 22 people. Back then I didnât
think anything about it, because things seem okay when you havenât seen
anything different. But now that I look back, I think WOW! I canât believe I
spent so much time in a place where we would line up every morning and our
teachers would check that our socks and tennis shoes were spotless and completely
white, our skirts past our knees or else the principal would make you rip the stitching
in front of her to make it longer, our nails short as can be, earrings as small
as possible, our natural hair color without any modifications, no bracelets on
your armsâŚ
I could keep going, but in a short sentence⌠it was a place
where self-expression would get you a trip to the principalâs office.
I grew up thinking that I did not have a pinch of creativity
in me, but the truth is, after the 5th grade, art class, music
class, any type of creative class was not a part of our curriculum at school. However,
my love for photography and filmmaking was inevitable, and I began documenting
my life with what I had: a GoPro that a friend had found in the ocean while
surfing. The very first GoPro model ever released!
I was ecstatic!!!
I started making short films about surfing, travel and
family.
Eventually, I got a DLSR camera, but it always remained a
hobbyâŚ
⌠until I discovered that scientists are extremely busy and
that they need help with showing their work to the public.
My two main passions combined: science and visual
storytelling, I had finally found my niche.
There is nothing quite like finally finding where you
belong. I found love not only in having a camera as my tool, but in spending
hours editing. Post production is therapeutic for me!
Q: What do you enjoy
most about the Masterâs program youâre in and where do you see yourself in the
future?
I have so far loved my experience in the masterâs program in
Marine Biodiversity and Conservation, because it is interdisciplinary. Not only are we allowed to combine science
with other disciplines, but we are encouraged to do so!
In my short time here, my professors and mentors have
impacted my life in many ways, and my career goals have become clearer than
ever. I hope to someday bring the knowledge I have gained here back to El
Salvador, where conservation efforts are greatly needed.
For the remainder of my time in the Marine Biodiversity and
Conservation Masters program, I will be starting a new project creating an expanded
informative âdocumentary styleâ video about the efforts of researchers in
Antarctica.
When I finish, I hope to use aerial photography to start a mangrove monitoring program in El Salvador, since these efforts are still not in place in the country. I also hope to use filmmaking to bring awareness and promote conservation efforts, and especially to use my work to help low income vulnerable coastal communities in El Salvador.
Last year, I had been invited onboard as Guest Scientist by Antarctica21 to oversee the FjordPhyto citizen science project I developed with Dr. Maria Vernet at Scripps Institution of Oceanography, and to give science lectures with the Expedition Staff each evening. Check out the short mini documentary to see what we were up to!
At the beginning of December 2017, I flew down to Ushuaia, Argentina: the last city in South America, the gateway port to Antarctica.
I boarded the MS Hebridean Sky, a 296-foot cruise ship, and was warmly welcomed by Polar Guide Staff Bob Gilmore and Annette Bombosch (FjordPhyto champions and co-founders of the Polar Citizen Science Collective).
During the month I was on board, we launched twelve citizen science zodiac cruises visiting seven different fjords along the peninsula. You can check out some photos from that trip @womanscientist or @fjordphyto on Instagram!Â
Locations where we sampled phytoplankton
With the quick five-day turnaround schedule, this allowed us to sample some of the same fjords repeatedly during the month, capturing changes from week to week.
Each science zodiac ride included six to nine passengers eager to participate. For the month I was on board, that means 72â108 passengers directly assisted in gathering data with FjordPhyto! Those who were not on the citizen science zodiac trips were still able to learn about the project through the evening recap presentations. We were excited to receive extremely positive feedback from the people who participated.
Allison captures a selfie with the FjordPhyto citizen science crew.
The samples collected by FjordPhyto citizen scientists contribute to the PhD thesis work of myself and graduate student Martina Mascioni in Argentina. We are trying to understand how polar phytoplankton are influenced by melting glaciers within fjords along the peninsula. Nearly 87% of the glaciers along the peninsula are in retreat (Cook et al., 2005, 2016) and the west Antarctic Peninsula is one of the fastest warming regions in the world. As climate change touches every place in the world, partnering with the tourism industry can help us look over larger geographical areas through a longer sampling season, seeing seasonal changes from November through March. Â
We spent a memorable 29-days traveling the Antarctic Peninsula sharing the wonders of this wild place with over 400 passengers in total. Having the opportunity to see the project in action provided extremely valuable perspective on what tour operators, staff, and passengers experience while in the field.
Antarctica is the only continent – set aside by the Antarctic Treaty – where peaceful and scientific endeavors take place. To be able to include the tourism industry in the legacy of polar research provides a powerful way to educate, involve, and share science with the public!Â
We all go home having a sense of awe and respect for this region. We become Antarctic Ambassadors.Â
You can get more updates about this project at www.fjordphyto.org and if you want to support the work we are doing with the tourism industry in the polar regions take a look at our crowdfunding campaign and share it with your friends and family! We really appreciate your support!Â
I want to thank the National Science Foundation for providing funding and travel support to Ushuaia, and Antarctica21 for inviting me onboard as Guest Scientist. I also want to thank my advisor Dr. Maria Vernet, Martina Mascioni, and all of the polar staff and citizen scientists for their enthusiasm and participation in FjordPhyto!Â
The International Association of Antarctic Tour Operators–or IAATO–founded in 1991, advocates and promotes the practice of safe and environmentally responsible travel to Antarctica.
During the week leading up to International Women’s Day (2 – 8 March) IAATO is celebrating Antarctic women who lead by example, are advocates for change and are instrumental in delivering our mission of safe, environmentally responsible polar travel.
I am honored to have been asked to do a Question & Answer session as one of their features on polar scientists involved with tourism.
You can follow #polarwomen on Twitter and Instagram and read more amazing profiles from scientists and educators to leaders and conservationists  here. Share this: by
Allison Lee is a biological oceanography PhD student at Scripps Institution of Oceanography, working to bring phytoplankton research to the world of Citizen Science in the Arctic and the Antarctic. In this episode we discuss her experience working in a lab setting, her inspiring blog âWoman Scientistâ, her passion for phytoplankton research, and more.
Allison just completed a field season in Antarctica aboard the Hebridean Sky, launching her FjordPhyto Citizen Science project with willing and excited passengers. The beginning of this story was featured in the San Diego Tribune.  During the 2017 – 2018 Antarctic summer, citizen scientists from multiple tour ships will be collecting samples which contribute to current climate research.
If you’re interested to learn more about the Citizen Science Project – FjordPhyto – in Antarctica, follow along on the FjordPhyto website, Instagram, and Facebook.
Allison Albritton is an ocean advocate, herself, sharing stories of positive change for the ocean. If you’d like to learn more about Allison Albritton, read the Woman Scientist interview here. Share this: by
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