SEA WOMEN IN ACTION: Orca expedition in the Arctic

Lien De Ruyck is organising this fundraiser.

Donation protected

SUPPORT OUR SEA WOMEN’S ARCTIC EXPEDITION: A VOYAGE OF DISCOVERY, SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH, ARTISTIC EXPLORATION AND EDUCATIONAL OUTREACH ❤️

At the end of 2021, I went searching for new climate narratives in Hope Bay, Antarctica. We were supposed to be listening to whales but heard something entirely different instead: the sound of the climate crisis in action. It is up to us to gear up to protect and restore our blue wilderness and its inhabitants.

NOVEMBER 2022, ARCTIC NORWAY ACTION

In November-December, an international team of 34 Indigenous and non-Indigenous sea women will travel to Arctic Norway. The expedition will unfold at 70 degrees North latitude, 350 kilometres north of the Arctic Circle. Our SWX team consists of polar ocean explorers, scientists, artists, photographers, videographers, lawyers, historians, traditional knowledge holders, educators, and scuba diving professionals.

OUR ACTIONS: We will run a women's leadership program in Tromso, followed by a field expedition on the oceanographic research vessel the 'MV Explorer'. This ocean research program includes an eDNA water sampling program, a passive acoustic recording program with multi-directional hydrophones, and a behavioural study to document interactions between snorkelers and orcas during the winter herring run.

Our explorations and findings will be published in scientific magazines and widely told in newspapers, magazines, schools, museums and other public institutions.

OUR MISSION: We want to create conditions for change by bringing ocean and polar life to eye level for citizens and leaders. We inspire, encourage and enable personal, corporate and political action to protect and restore the ocean. We will craft and share influential (scientific) stories that leave the audience in wonder, connect hearts and ignite action.

THIS CROWDFUNDING WILL BE USED FOR

Sea Women Expeditions is a volunteer-based organization that creates a space for women to gain leadership skills and field experience in polar ocean expeditions integrating Exploration with the Arts & the Sciences. This expedition is 100% self-funded. We can use all and any (media) partners, sponsors and supporters.

This funding will be used to finance

our training, dry fit suits, observation and snorkeling equipment
the set-up of an open-source marine database
the distribution of our science education and communication
the preparation and running of the women’s leadership program will be shared digitally with an international audience.

Every donation will be carefully invested in this expedition's preparation, execution and ripple effect. Sponsor organisations will receive a talk and presentation about the experiences and results of the expedition.

_______________________________________

Meet our expedition leader Susan R. Eaton in the shortfilm below. If you want to learn more about climate science, ocean policy, and gender issues in the Arctic—and to follow our preparations for Arctic Norway—you can follow us at Sea Women Expeditions.