Sea Women Expedition Arctic Norway 2022
Donation protected
I am raising money to fund my role on Sea Women Expeditions 2022 voyage to Arctic Norway. On the expedition I will be documenting the research, activities, cultural interactions, and environmental observation of the research team. Sea Women Expeditions will use my work to promote their continued work of bringing all-women teams of Arctic researchers to some of the most ecologically at-risk environments on the planet. By contributing, you are supporting critical environmental research, indigenous communities, women, and the future of the planet.
ABOUT ME
As a member of the November 2022 Sea Women Expeditions voyage to Arctic Norway, I will be documenting the journey, capturing the stories and experiences of the dynamic group of women aboard the ship. I will be telling the stories of our team, capturing in words and photos the recorded knowledge, and sharing the expedition's efforts with the broader scientific and exploration community.
ABOUT MEAs a member of the November 2022 Sea Women Expeditions voyage to Arctic Norway, I will be documenting the journey, capturing the stories and experiences of the dynamic group of women aboard the ship. I will be telling the stories of our team, capturing in words and photos the recorded knowledge, and sharing the expedition's efforts with the broader scientific and exploration community.
I am an explorer, researcher, and entrepreneur with a passion for the polar regions. My exploration journey started in 2018 when I completed a research project and book that focused on the cultural and culinary traditions of the small communities throughout the North Atlantic Ocean. I later conducted similar work in 2019 on cuisine and culture in Greenland, Labrador, and Newfoundland. In 2020 and 2022, I worked on ships to the Antarctic and South Georgia as a Passenger Service Manager. Since graduating from Princeton University in 2019, I founded Starling Guides, a travel guide start-up.
ABOUT SEA WOMEN EXPEDITIONS
Sea Women Expeditions (“Sea Women”) is a volunteer-led, international team of Indigenous and non-Indigenous women ocean explorers, scientists, filmmakers, photographers, artists, historians, lawyers, cultural advisors, educators (K-12 & post-secondary), and scuba divers.
In collaboration with Indigenous women and girls in circumpolar regions, we explore the Arctic’s history, culture, geography, resources, life, climate, and challenges facing Indigenous and Northern peoples in the warming Arctic.
Our mission is to scout, record, and document disappearing sea ice in the Arctic. We create opportunities for Indigenous and non-Indigenous women to gain leadership skills and field experience in Exploration and the Arts & Sciences. Together, these women make planet-wide ripple effects.
We envision women's equity and inclusion in developing circumpolar policies on economic prosperity, science and technology, human rights, gender equity, food security, and strategies to mitigate societal change and climate change in the warming Arctic.
We also envision a world where Indigenous and northern peoples collaborate to build vibrant, resilient, and sustainable communities in the Arctic.
Sea Women Expeditions impacts the world of oceanic research and climate change in a myriad of ways, such as:
- Studying disappearing sea ice in the Arctic
- Bringing the Ocean to Eye Level via remotely operated vehicles (ROVs), mobile aquariums, diver propulsion vehicles, and snorkeling & scuba diving
- Investing in Women & Girls by developing dynamic leaders to tackle societal change and climate change in the Arctic
- Creating opportunities for women and girls to excel in Exploration and the Arts & Sciences
- Combining Traditional Knowledge and Scientific Research to mitigate the impacts of societal change and climate change in the Arctic
ABOUT THE NOVEMBER 2022 EXPEDITION TO ARCTIC NORWAY
Our 2022 Arctic Norway Team is comprised of 26 Indigenous and non-Indigenous Sea Women who will participate in ocean research & snorkel expedition during the winter herring run.
Our team of Sea Women and esteemed advisors originates from nine countries—Canada, the United States, Mexico, Greenland, Finland, Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Italy, Poland, Australia, and France—and includes First Nations and Inuit women from Canada and Greenland, and Sami women from Norway and Sweden.
Before departing on the ocean research & winter snorkel expedition, the Sea Women and our advisors will participate in a women’s leadership program in Tromsø, Norway.
Expanding upon the ocean research program that we launched during our inaugural expedition to Norway in November-December 2019, our upcoming ocean research program will consist of sampling for eDNA (“e” stands for “environmental”) in the water column, and the acquisition of passive acoustic recordings of whales, including recording the echo locations of orcas.
In November 2022, we’ll introduce a new research project to investigate interspecific interactive behaviors from free-ranging killer whales (Orcinus orca) directed towards human snorkelers during open water encounters in Norway’s Arctic fjords.
The data we collect will contribute to baseline data that will better inform management activities, support responsible ecotourism, and mitigate any negative impacts on both people and whales. In turn, the data we collect and analyze may assist this ecotourism venture to remain sustainable, benefiting the local economy and allowing the opportunity for future generations to also experience the magnificence of these marine apex predators from beneath the surface.
Our expedition platform for Norway is the 47-meter MV Explorer, an oceanographic research vessel (with an ice-reinforced hull). Built in 1994, the MV Explorer was recently retrofitted as an expedition ship. Our Netherlands-based dive tour operator, Waterproof Cruises & Expeditions, is a woman-owned company famous for pioneering polar dive and snorkel operations in the Arctic and Antarctica.
WHY THE EXPEDITION IS IMPORTANT TO ME
I am beyond honored to be a part of the 2022 Sea Women team. I am humbled to be surrounded by a team of accomplished scientists, artists, educators, and above all, explorers. The opportunity to go on the voyage will allow me to further my writing skills on community and climate change. It will give me a platform to spread the word about causes for which I care deeply: the costs of disappearing sea ice in the Arctic, the effects of climate change on Inuit communities, the overall awareness of High Arctic cultures, and the voice of women within arctic research, climate change efforts, and exploration. I have worked hard to create opportunities for myself to become an activist in these spaces and look forward to continuing my efforts with Sea Women.
COSTS OF THE EXPEDITION
Unfortunately, raising funds for polar expeditions is the biggest hurdle that explorers face. Sea Women Expeditions has no paid employees, and volunteering is a cornerstone of our expeditions.
It takes a community of generous patrons, supporters, and donors to send a team of women to the High Arctic.
A BREAKDOWN OF MY EXPEDITION COSTS:
$4,600 live-aboard, shared cabin on the ship (Cohort #2): this includes room and board
$1,300 airfare from California to Oslo, Oslo to Tromso, and return.
$1,300 for four nights, meals, and transportation in Tromso
$1000 Scuba certification and gear
$600 the development of infographics and marketing materials for Seawomen
$600 the development of infographics and marketing materials for Seawomen
$300 administration fee, paid to Sea Women Expeditions
$80 wetsuit rental
$1,320 Miscellaneous:
- Divers’ insurance
- Travel and air evacuation insurance
- Taxis and other transfers
- Excess baggage
- Snorkel gear
- Cold weather expedition gear
- Camera equipment and protection
- GoFundMe charges
TOTAL: $9,500
I hope to raise these funds by September 2022 to be fully prepared for the November expedition.
To raise the money, I will be leading my fund-raising efforts, spreading the word about Sea Women’s mission and goals, speaking publicly about the expedition, seeking support for various grants and corporate sponsors, and contributing my personal savings.
Your gift, no matter how small, will help lead the way in ocean education, help promote women in STEM and empower the next generation of female explorers. You will be supporting female role models in areas traditionally dominated by men and creating a space for girls to excel in science, the arts, and exploration. You will be enabling the collection of necessary scientific data on orcas, ocean change, ocean chemistry, marine geology, micro-plastics, and plankton. You will encourage curiosity, inspire wonder, and ignite action for all who experience and follow the Sea Women Expedition above and below the surface.
No amount is too small, and I genuinely appreciate your generosity.
WANT TO LEARN MORE?
For more information on Sea Women Expeditions, check out the links below:
Organizer
Grace Cordsen
Organizer
New York, NY
