Citizens' Campus: Waves, Ice, Penguins — Thuringian Scientists Travel to Antarctica

The Jena-based scientists from the Thuringian Institute for Sustainability and Climate Protection have been to Antarctica several times, using a wide variety of modes of transport. But a sailing boat? That’s a first! Can it even work? To do so, they’ll have to cross the infamous Drake Passage – the roughest sea on Earth – and in Antarctica, the unpredictable ice lies in wait. With 14 people on board, the ‘Malizia Explorer’ – a yacht just 26 metres long owned by the well-known German professional sailor Boris Herrmann – will set sail from the southern tip of South America in November 2025. The destination is the Danger Islands, an archipelago of seven small islands in the virtually unexplored wilderness of Antarctica. 

But why, exactly? The main aim is to protect a vast penguin colony. The expedition’s scientific director, Osama Mustafa, will talk about the background to the expedition, the conditions on board and how the expedition is progressing.

Admission: 5 euros