West African Master’s Students Embark on POLARSTERN Expedition to Study Atlantic Climate Change

Master's students from West Africa set sail on the POLARSTERN "Floating University" to study climate change and marine biodiversity in the Atlantic.

By: AXL Media

Published: May 1, 2026, 7:29 AM EDT

Source: Information for this report was sourced from EurekAlert!

A Floating Campus for the Next Generation of Oceanographers

On May 1, 2026, fourteen Master’s students embarked on a transformative 2,840-nautical-mile journey from Mindelo, Cabo Verde, to Bremerhaven, Germany. Serving as the practical component of the "Climate Change and Marine Sciences" programme at the Universidade Técnica do Atlântico, this "Floating University" utilizes the transit of the research vessel POLARSTERN. Under the guidance of ten experienced scientists, the students are transitioning from theoretical classroom learning to active field research on one of the world's premier polar and marine research vessels, operated by the Alfred Wegener Institute.

Hands-On Training in High-Precision Marine Instrumentation

The expedition provides students with essential technical skills required for modern oceanographic research. Throughout the voyage, the participants are learning to operate complex scientific equipment, including rosette water samplers and advanced filtration systems. According to Dr. Björn Fiedler, a marine chemist at GEOMAR and the expedition’s chief scientist, the goal is for students to learn how to collect high-quality data under the challenging conditions of the open sea. These skills are critical for their future independent research projects focused on the marine ecosystems of West Africa.

Daily Deep-Sea Measurements and Biodiversity Monitoring

The scientific agenda of expedition PS154/2 involves daily physical, biological, and biogeochemical measurements at water depths reaching 4,900 metres. The team is focused on documenting long-term oceanic changes and assessing marine biodiversity along the transit route. Each day, the POLARSTERN halts for several hours to deploy instruments into the water column, allowing the researchers to measure parameters such as sea surface temperature and CO2 concentrations. These activities are vital for building a comprehensive record of how climate change is altering the Atlantic’s chemical and biological makeup.