Good progress for the Citizen into Science project! This summer, it was around Greenland that Christophe Van Dongen and the crew of the SY Cavalou put Oceanovox’s VOX-1 satellite box to the test. This polar expedition, a pioneering example of participatory science, initiated the collection of oceanographic data by citizens in this remote region.

Did you know that there are around 14,000 pleasure craft on the high seas every year, compared with just a hundred or so scientific campaigns? This is where Citizen into Science really comes into its own: bringing together yachtsmen and scientists to collect oceanographic data that is essential for preserving our oceans.

Supported since 2023, this Ifremer project is proving its worth. Thanks to the VOX-1 satellite box developed by OceanoVox, yachts can now automatically monitor weather conditions on the high seas, while being tracked in real time via nano-satellites. The VOX-2 box, currently under development, will enable surface water analysis (salinity, phytoplankton, temperature, etc.) to be added.

The results will be fed into the Global Ocean Observing System (GOOS) and will help to create a ‘digital twin’ of the ocean, for a better understanding of its evolution.

Tests in polar environments are a key step towards exploring areas that are still inaccessible and gaining a better understanding of our ocean.