RRS Sir David Attenborough is embarking on a Southern Ocean science research cruise.
After a successful first half of the science season, the RRS Sir David Attenborough is currently hosting an international and multidisciplinary team of scientists as part of BIOPOLE, which is studying globally important processes in both the Arctic and Antarctic.
This is the second of three Southern Ocean BIOPOLE research missions, all focused on investigating the sources and flows of nutrients within and out of this globally important ocean, and the ways in which microscopic organisms process these nutrients and transport carbon to the deep ocean.
During this research mission, scientists will also carry out oceanographic and biological surveys in the ocean around the sub-Antarctic island of South Georgia, as part of BAS’s long term monitoring programme Polar Ocean Ecosystem Time Series.
News and updates
01/02/25: Scientists and science support staff have arrived to the RRS Sir David Attenborough in Punta Arenas. Science cruise set-up is underway; science equipment is being unloaded from containers and the team are getting accustomed to life onboard.
02/02/25: It’s ‘all hands on deck’ to set up science equipment in the ship’s laboratories. With only a couple of days before we depart, excitement is building!
05/02/25: And we’re off! Today we leave Punta Arenas and set sail to the Southern Ocean. The ship is buzzing with energy and excitement for the 7 weeks of science that lie ahead.
Stay in the loop by following BIOPOLE on social media platforms:
On Instagram: @biopole_nerc_nc
On Bluesky: @biopole.bsky.social
On Facebook: @BIOPOLE
On X: @BIOPOLE_NERC
Press Release: Mission to Antarctica seeks answers to critical questions about nutrients and carbon
Where is RRS Sir David Attenborough?
The view from the Bridge:
