Aurora Expeditions has launched a new Citizen Science initiative across its expedition fleet in partnership with Joe Muise, founder of Thermal Imaging of Polar Ice (TIPI). The program uses thermal cameras to capture temperature variations in ice and glaciers, aiming to improve understanding of melt patterns and environmental change in polar regions. Aurora says it is the first expedition operator to apply this technology at scale within a citizen science program.
The initiative is run onboard by the company's glaciologists and Citizen Science Coordinators, with passengers helping collect thermal imagery during voyages. The data is intended to support long-term scientific research into ice dynamics. The program is now active fleet-wide, covering Aurora's three ships, Greg Mortimer, Sylvia Earle and Douglas Mawson, giving travellers on polar expeditions the chance to participate directly in environmental research during their voyage.