Our Mission
Ignite curiosity for our oceans through the power of the scientific process — connecting the world to the microscopic wonders that power our planet.
About Plankton Base
An organization connecting science, travel, and the ocean.
We are a mission-driven organization with a unique collaboration between scientists, tour expedition operators, educators, expedition cruise travelers, and science students — collecting ocean samples to assess the impacts of a changing environment on plankton communities.
Our Vision
A connected network of explorers working toward a healthier, more approachable ocean environment.
BUILT ON A DECADE OF POLAR RESEARCH
Evolved from the proof-of-concept program FjordPhyto
The Foundation
FjordPhyto was our foundational proof-of-concept program, demonstrating that rigorous science can be a deeply engaging experience that connects people to the world's most remote oceans. Born in the fjords of the Antarctic Peninsula, the program was led for a decade by Dr. Allison Cusick and Dr. Martina Mascioni. Together, they refined the art of engaging travelers in high-level research, building a premier participatory science program in collaboration with members of the International Association of Antarctica Tour Operators that had led the way in understanding seasonal changes in Antarctica's phytoplankton communities.
- 100+
- sampling locations along the Antarctic Peninsula
- 12,000+
- travelers who participated in sampling
- 150+
- expedition guides trained to lead the protocol
- 16 operators · 26 ships
- vessels from 12 to 500 passengers
The Data
Through this collaboration, we have collected an extensive 9-year seasonal time-series dataset tracking plankton community diversity and environmental dynamics. This comprehensive archive combines environmental DNA (or eDNA) sequencing and high-resolution microscopy with quantitative assessments of cell abundance and carbon biomass, alongside critical environmental parameters such as conductivity, temperature, and chlorophyll-a fluorescence.
The dataset remains a permanent, open-source monument to our collective work. It will always be accessible on Dryad, NCBI, and GBIF. We encourage anyone to access and analyze this data!
See how our data worksThe Future: Plankton Base
These years of polar research and expedition collaborations laid the groundwork for evolving into Plankton Base. Ultimately, this new framework allows enduring opportunities for strengthened collaboration, education outreach, artist and student involvement, and the next generation of collaborative efforts to actively monitor polar and ocean ecosystems. We expand beyond Antarctica to collaborate worldwide — monitoring changing marine ecosystems, bring deeper experiences and strengthening our institutional collaborations with other researchers and universities.
About the team
Working at the intersection of polar research, education, and expedition tourism.
Our team has spent 10 years pioneering participatory science programs in the most remote corners of our planet — bringing marine scientists, educators, and expedition guides together around a shared mission.
Meet the team
Partners & recognition
FjordPhyto founders have garnered extensive support and recognition across the community, bringing the strengths into Plankton Base. The seasonal monitoring efforts through FjordPhyto were officially endorsed by the Southern Ocean Observing System (SOOS) as part of the United Nations Ocean Decade effort. Their research and educational initiatives have been funded and supported in the past by NASA's Citizen Science Earth Systems Program (CSESP), the NASA SMD Community of Practice for Education (SCoPE), and the National Science Foundation (NSF) Office of Polar Programs.
This work has been celebrated for its innovation and research excellence — honored by UC San Diego with the Inaugural Chancellor's Innovation Award and recognized by the Phycological Society of America for outstanding contributions to the field. Plankton Base operates through close academic collaborations with Scripps Institution of Oceanography at UC San Diego and the Universidad Nacional de La Plata, while working alongside Operators who are members of the International Association of Antarctica Tour Operators (IAATO) and Arctic Expedition Cruise Operators (AECO) to engage the polar tourism sector in rigorous scientific programming.
Historical collaborations do not imply current endorsement of Plankton Base by these organizations.