Expedition objectives

“We cannot wait to support efforts to characterise the opulent ecosystems found in Galápagos deep waters using the deep water submersible Alvin.” Tomes have been written about the biology of Galápagos. It is globally renowned for its unique and exotic terrestrial wildlife. Considering marine life, you may conjure up images…

Geology of the Galápagos platform

“On the AT50-09 expedition, we will be mapping margins of the Galápagos Platform that have never been explored in detail. The Galápagos Islands are considered to be an archipelago, or group of islands, that comprises numerous volcanoes that formed as a result of “hotspot volcanism”. “Hotspots” occur in Earth’s mantle….”

“Deep-sea corals are weird, wacky and wonderful. On this research expedition, we’ll use them to study our ocean, climate, and what the future holds for these incredible creatures. When most people think of corals, it’s usually the reefs they build in warm, tropical waters like Australia’s Great Barrier Reef. However,…”

Outreach and local community engagement

“As well as the key science objectives, this expedition presents a fantastic opportunity to educate and communicate the natural history of the Galápagos Islands like never before. The expedition is a historical moment for science, conservation and exploration of our oceans in the context of Galápagos and its new marine…”