Elevate your itineraries with hands-on marine research that is impactful and credible.
Partner with Plankton Base and bring real, hands-on science onboard your vessel — delivering impactful experiences to thousands of passengers across multiple excursions each season. Your expedition guides do not need any prior background in ocean or plankton science; our specialized training and intuitive field protocols equip them with everything they need to lead the program with confidence.
The full ocean-science pipeline, in one partnership.
Plankton Base is a full-service partnership for operators — from ship to open-source data. We deliver a comprehensive, ready-to-run program so your designated expedition guides can offer travelers a robust, fun, real-science experience the moment they step onboard.
A full-service ship programming partnership
Operators partner with Plankton Base across the entire workflow — from ship to open-source data. We bring the rigorous oceanographic instruments, sampling protocols, curriculum, lab analytics, and science; your team plugs it into the voyages you already run.
A consistent, real science experience
Give every traveler the same rigorous, hands-on encounter with polar plankton — voyage after voyage, vessel after vessel. No improvisation, no guessing, no science background required from your staff.
Contribute to something big
Every sample your guests collect flows into open-source polar ocean research. Operators differentiate their product; travelers walk away part of a real, long-running scientific time-series.
Your guests want meaning, not just scenery.
Your travelers want more than observation — they want to participate. Plankton Base helps you offer a credible, guided citizen-science experience without building a research program from scratch.
A scientist-designed program led by your onboard facilitators — any designated staff member on your team can be trained to deliver it, no prior plankton or ocean-science background required.
A structured citizen-science program that supports your compliance with the educational-value requirements expected of polar tourism.
Real protocols, real lab analytics, open-source data, and post-season reporting your marketing team can credibly cite — no 'science-washing'.
References to IAATO and the Antarctic Treaty System describe operator-side compliance frameworks. Historical institutional relationships do not imply current endorsement of Plankton Base by IAATO, the Treaty parties, or any named organization.
What ships in the onboard kit.
The physical kit delivered to your vessel — gear, consumables, protocols, and user guides. (Training, workshops, lab pipeline, and reporting are detailed in Program details below.)
- Ocean-measurement instruments (the same gear used in our global plankton research)
- Sampling consumables and preservation supplies for collecting samples
- Printed field protocols and facilitator user guides
- Guest education materials to take home and share
- Replenishment and responsive support from the Plankton Base team
What the full partnership covers.
Partnering with Plankton Base goes far beyond the kit. You receive the complete program — instruments, training, workshops, lectures, lab pipeline, and reporting — customized around your vessel's operational needs.
The scientific instruments you need
Onboard kit — operate with precision using our standardized field kit, featuring the same specialized instruments used in our global plankton research. One durable, multi-season kit serves 200+ travelers across many voyages.
Training provided — online and in person
Certified guide training, comprehensive online and in person. Field protocols are adapted so any designated facilitator — guide, naturalist, or expedition staffer — can learn to facilitate and talk about plankton and ocean with confidence. Backed by responsive support from the Plankton Base team.
On-board workshops
For trained facilitators to deliver with confidence onboard — a range of interactive, hands-on, ocean-themed workshops travelers can join alongside sampling, making the science tangible, social, and memorable.
Curated lecture series
For guides to deliver impactful, up-to-date research on ocean, climate, and plankton — and for guests to take home and continue sharing what they learned with their networks.
Sampling + lab pipeline
Complete research pathway with transparent phases so you can see how your contribution shaped discovery. Lab analysis by scientists, with open-source data shared in a timely manner.
Seasonal impact reporting
Personalized reports for each ship operator's seasonal contributions, plus a total annual report shared through our newsletter — progress stories you can share with guests, crew, and marketing teams.
Tell us about your season.
Share a few details about your fleet and we'll follow up with kit specifics, certification timing, and reporting options tailored to your operation.