91ÌÒÉ«

Photo: Somewhere in the north-western Pacific. Expedition to the waters of the Kuril-Kamchatka Trench (KuramBio II, 2016) (photo by A. Jażdżewska).

Weeks of Preparation

Oceanographic research expeditions are not organised overnight. The application process alone, whether for access to a research vessel or a research grant, can take several years. Once everything has been approved, painstaking logistical preparations begin.

These are meticulously planned operations
– underlines Prof. Jażdżewska.

Research equipment, chemical reagents, spare parts for instruments, as well as medicines and hygiene supplies, all have to be prepared well in advance. Once at sea, there is no possibility of ordering missing items. Depending on the route, containers carrying equipment may spend weeks en route to the departure port.

A single oversight can bring an entire project to a halt, and the nearest civilisation may be more than a day’s sailing away 

– says the researcher.

 

Photo: On board the R/V Sonne during the expedition to the waters of the Aleutian Trench (AleutBio, 2022) (photo by A. Jażdżewska).

Millions of Euros and Dozens of Specialists

The costs of organising a research expedition can amount to several million euros. Hiring a specialised research vessel, paying a crew of around 30 people, fuel, supplies and supporting several dozen scientists all contribute to the enormous expense. As a result, such expeditions are usually international and interdisciplinary in nature.

You have to make the most of the scientific potential of a given region

– says Anna Jażdżewska.

A vessel designed specifically for scientific research, such as the German research ship Sonne used during the 2016 and 2022 missions, can accommodate up to 40 scientists. Smaller vessels usually host between 20 and 30 researchers, though occasionally only a handful take part.

These are floating laboratories

– says Prof. Jażdżewska. 

Cabins, laboratories and equipment rooms are all adapted to enable work in extreme conditions.

Collecting Samples from Nearly 10 Kilometres Below the Surface

One of the sampling devices used during the expeditions is an epibenthic sled, a large research apparatus lowered to depths exceeding 9,000 metres. The process of lowering and retrieving it can take many hours. The cable to which it is attached must be monitored continuously.

If the cable were to snap, it would mean the loss of equipment worth tens of thousands of euros and, with it, the loss of valuable data

– the scientist explains.

Once the samples return to the deck, a race against time begins. The collected material must be washed and preserved, ideally as quickly as possible, as this increases the chances of securing material suitable for genetic analyses.

This may be the only opportunity we have for many years. Sometimes we will never return to a given location 

– the researcher stresses.

A Team of People, Not Machines

There are no random people on expeditions like these 

– the researcher points out.

The composition of the team depends on the type of research being conducted. Each sampling device has a dedicated team responsible for its operation. Scientists are assigned specific roles: some operate the equipment, others rinse and preserve the samples, while another group is responsible for maintaining the highly important documentation. A typical day at sea is closely linked to the research schedule and weather conditions. At times, the entire workflow revolves around a single piece of equipment, with anything from a few to ten people assigned to it.

Weather conditions can sometimes disrupt even the most carefully planned operations. High waves or strong winds may make it impossible to deploy instruments safely. Under such circumstances, there is a risk of losing expensive equipment and endangering both the crew and researchers. In such cases, the vessel changes course. Unexpected incidents also occur.

During one expedition, we had to transport a sailor to hospital as an emergency. The entire schedule had to be revised 

– the scientist recalls.

Journeys to the Limits of What Is Possible

Oceanographic expeditions are about much more than science. They are also a test of endurance, teamwork and logistical expertise. They can last anywhere from four weeks to several months.

It is life without land. Sometimes we go for weeks without seeing any sign of civilisation

– Prof. Jażdżewska explains.

Yet the outcomes of such expeditions are invaluable: the discovery of new species, a better understanding of deep-sea ecosystems and knowledge that helps us avoid destroying forms of life we have not yet even come to know.

Prof. Anna Jażdżewska’s story demonstrates that science is not confined to microscopes and laboratories. It is also the icy wind of Antarctica, equipment lowered into the darkness of the Aleutian Trench and teams of people prepared to venture where no one has gone before.

Source: dr hab. Anna Jażdżewska, Associate Professor at the 91ÌÒÉ«, Department of Invertebrate Zoology and Hydrobiology, Faculty of Biology and Environmental Protection, 91ÌÒÉ«
Edit: Kacper Szczepaniak, Centre for Brand Communications, 91ÌÒÉ«