Arvor
Conquering the English Channel
Sailowtech’s third expedition marked the end of the Plankton mission and a unique opportunity to study the human impact on plankton, as well as to quantify the nano-plastics present.
This new adventure took place from July 18 to August 11 in La Manche and brought together a team of 18 students.
Our Project
The Arvor expedition was Sailowtech’s third expedition, following on from the Atlantea expedition and the February 2024 Alpine Lake expedition. The aim of this new expedition was to bring EPFL students closer to the ocean. It took place around the English Channel, between the coast of Brittany, the Scylly Islands, Cardiff and Skomer Island in Wales. The expedition brought together 18 students.
The main research objectives were the impact of climate change on plankton and the quantification of nano-plastics, making the boat a veritable on-board laboratory.
Each day was dedicated to collecting samples for the various protocols with partner laboratories. The low-tech instruments on board were also tested and improved.
The crew was rotated to make the expedition accessible to a greater number of students. These rotations took place at various ports of call. These stopovers also offered the opportunity to run awareness-raising workshops for young people in the region. To this end, we contacted sailing schools and day-care centers to build the project with them.
Over and above the scientific project and the analyses carried out, the aim was for the expedition to enable the crew members to develop their group cohesion, their sense of community and their ability to reduce their consumption and their needs by testing different low-tech products and paying particular attention to our diet.
You can find all our communications (photos, articles, past events) on this website and on our various social networks.
We believe that together, knowledge and wonder can help raise awareness and engage students in the protection of aquatic ecosystems.
Le Mauritius, Goélette de Pacifique sur laquelle nous embarquerons
Notre itinéraire
Photo de l’île Skomer
Background
Plankton, often referred to as “drifting life”, play an essential role in aquatic ecosystems as the basis of the food chain, contributing to water oxygenation and species survival. Zooplankton, which are eaten by fish, do not feed on phytoplankton. The balance between phytoplankton and zooplankton is crucial, and inappropriate human activities can upset this balance.
In partnership with various EPFL laboratories, we want to measure the impact of climate change on these species.
With the help of a low-cost spectroscope, we will be able to measure, quantify and identify microplastics in this part of the world.
In collaboration with Fondation Pacifique
Pacifique is a Geneva-based non-profit organization whose mission is to contribute to a better understanding of the human impact on the oceans.
It defends the values of human solidarity and environmental awareness.
To fulfill this mission, Pacifique designs, organizes and leads multidisciplinary oceanographic expeditions on traditional “working” sailing yachts.
Fleur de Passion and Le Mauritius are floating laboratories with a clear goal: Sailing for Science, Education and Sustainability.
Each expedition has three components: a scientific component, a socio-educational component and an artistic component.
Science: Pacifique offers its scientific partners the opportunity to conduct innovative research programs or one-off missions, thanks to its logistics platforms and cutting-edge technologies.
Socio-educational: the sailboats are considered by the judicial and educational authorities of several Swiss cantons to be the ideal socio-educational environment for young people who have dropped out of school or are at risk of doing so, as part of the Jeunes en Mer (JEM) program. The impact on these young people and those around them is considerable.
Raising awareness: Pacifique raises awareness among decision-makers and the general public, and among the younger generation in particular, through the development and implementation of a wide range of cultural, educational and media activities.
Alongside Pacifique, we took part in the Fêtes maritimes de Douarnenez a few days before our expedition from July 18 to 21.
On this occasion, our various projects and onboard instruments were presented on board the Mauritius. Pictures can be found on the sailowtech instagram account.
Our scientific projects
For this expedition, we have worked with several laboratories in the region to establish reliable scientific protocols whose data can be analyzed in the laboratory by students.
Astrolabe Expeditions
Use of a hydrophone for cetacean detection.
Sense Lab EPFL - CTD
The CTD is a probe (Conductivity, Temperature, Depth) that we developed in partnership with EPFL’s SenseLab. This low-cost, modular probe measures various physico-chemical water parameters. In addition to the three basic sensors, others have been added: pH and dissolved oxygen. This instrument was designed by a student in the spring 2023 semester, and the project continues in the fall 2023 and spring 2024 semesters to improve the probe. Its electronic and mechanical design, battery and software program are to be improved, and the sensors are to be calibrated.
In particular, the data from this probe will be used to complement other scientific equipment in order to provide an environmental context for each sampling location.
The aim of this project is to contribute to the democratization of this type of low-cost tool, to enable an increase in oceanographic research and lead to a better understanding and preservation of the marine environment.
Sense Lab EPFL - Degassing chamber
In the spring semester of 2024, we worked on a prototype degassing chamber for monitoring dissolved CO2. The aim of this degassing cell is to recover surface water, extract its gases and continuously measure the concentration of dissolved CO2 using a low-cost sensor, all as frugal and low-tech as possible. The project was developed in collaboration with EPFL’s SenseLab and tested in real-life conditions during the 2024 summer expedition. The data collected will be analyzed with a view to making the link with the issue of ocean acidification.
LGB EPFL - Planktoscope
During the expedition, we tested the effectiveness of a Planktosocope made by an EPFL student during the autumn 2023 semester at the LGB, Laboratoire de Géochimie Biologique.
This tool is an open-source instrument for the quantitative observation of plankton. Its small size, ease of use and low cost mean it can be adapted and used by as many people as possible.
The Planktoscope enables us to observe plankton and then identify them.
LNET & CEL - Micro-plastics studies
Microplastics are a major source of pollution in lakes and oceans worldwide. Although well known, the effects of microplastics on the marine environment, and even the size and distribution of microplastics in the ocean, remain poorly understood. It is therefore imperative that we develop methods to quantify environmental plastic pollution in water sources, and that we are able to rapidly apply these methods on a larger scale. At present, identification techniques are still too costly and not easily transportable, limiting the amount of data available.
For this reason, in collaboration with LNET (Laboratory of Nanoscience for Energy Technologies) and CEL (Central Environment Laboratory), a new low-cost technique for characterizing microplastics has been developed, based on Raman spectroscopy. Two parallel projects are currently underway: the creation of a library of Raman signals from different types of microplastics, and the construction of a reduced, low-cost Raman spectroscope system for laboratory use.
Onboard Low-tech projects
The term “Low-Tech” can refer to objects, techniques, services, know-how, practices and even currents of thought integrating strong sustainability, collective resilience and cultural transformation.
This expedition will embark on a number of Low-tech projects:
- Tubular solar cooker to reduce gas and energy consumption
- Norwegian kettle to reduce on-board gas consumption
- Test and study of a first prototype of a solar desanilizer
- Multifunction pedal (washing drum, mixer, electricity, etc.)
- Secchi disk to measure euphotic depth and water transparency
These projects are carried out by students using recycled materials. A pictorial documentation of each project is produced and then shared to make the design of Low-Tech objects accessible to all students, according to the principle of Open Science.
Artistic projects
“Chromatique des Profondeurs: Une Odyssée Artistique au Coeur du Plancton” (Chromatic Depths: An Artistic Odyssey into the Heart of Plankton)
This project aims to capture the beauty and diversity of plankton while scientifically documenting this exploration at sea.
Objectives:
- Scientific Illustration: Illustrate the plankton observed in precise detail, allowing for a faithful artistic representation, accompanied by relevant scientific annotations.
- Illustrated Logbook: Produce an artistic logbook documenting the expedition, including sketches
sketches, drawings, annotations and artistic and scientific reflections. - Capture the Emotion of the Experience: Use art to capture the emotions, inspiration, challenges and highlights of the expedition.
- Art exhibition: An exhibition featuring the illustrations and logbook, allowing the public to discover the unique experience at sea and learn more about plankton.
In short, this project raises public awareness of the importance of plankton and the preservation of the ocean.
of the ocean. By combining art and science, it captures the beauty of the ocean while preserving the scientific
scientific reality of our observations.
Artists: Eloïse Frenais @onirique_loise & Delphine Parel @chocolateandoctopus
An extract from the artistic projects can be found in the Autumn issue of Dimensions magazine (here).
Our partners
