Hi everyone,

my name is Kateryna and I am increadibly grateful and excited to be part of this research expedition to a remote area of Western Greenland! I am a scientist, sailor, mother of two wonderful children, and someone who has spend my life exploring how to create a cleaner and more sustainable future.

This July, I have a great honor to be part of a sailing research #eXXpedition Arctic- an all-women sailing expedition bringing together passionate women from around the world to investigate ocean plastic pollution and inspire solutions.

This oppotunity means so much to me because it brings together two important parts of my life: science and the ocean!

I studied materials engineering. Later I continued my education in Canada, studying environmental chemistry. For the past 15 years, I have been working as a scientist at the Max-Planck Institute für Kohlenforschung in Germany, focusing on sustainable energy research , including storage of hydrogen in metal hydrides.

Outside the laboratory, I have always felt strong connection to the sea.

As a sailor, I have explored the Mediterranean, the North Sea and the Baltic Sea. These journeys have given me unforgettable moments surrounded by beauty of nature-but they also shown me increasing pressure our oceans face from human activity, especially plastic pollution.

Several years ago, while travelling in Thailand with my daughter, we visited a remote beach near the Malacca Strait. Far away from tourist areas, we expected untouched nature-but instead we found a coastline covered with all sorts of plastic waste: bottles, straws, packaging, rest of fishing equipment. We decided we could not simply walk away. Together, we cleaned around 500 m of beach and collected a shocking amount of plastic waste. Seeing pollution on that scale , in such a beautiful and remote place, made me realise how fragile our environment is and how urgently we need solutions to tackle this problem.

What is eXXpedition and their mission?

Exxpedition is a leading ocean research organisation that helps people truly connect with plastic crisis and discover their unique role to start solving this problem.

Plastic pollution is everywhere and we all want to act.

Exxpedition take teams of women to sea to witness the plastic problem first-hand, contribute to groundbreaking scientific research and bring back stories that inspire change:

Althought I have already been selected for this incredible journey, participation requires a significant personal contribution, including expedition costs, travel, winter sailing water resistant gear and preparation.

I am therefore asking for your support to help make this mission possible.

Every donation, no matter the amount, helps me take part in this mission and bring back knowledge, experieces , and stories that can inspire others.

Thank you for supporting me, this mission, and the belief that protecting our oceans is a responsibility we all share.

With gratitude,

Kateryna