The team from the ISSEO mission (Initiative for a Sustainable Science of Oceanic Ecosystems) imaged plankton in the Gulf of St. Laurent in June using the Curiosity microscope.

This student-led initiative aims to address a scientific question using low-carbon methods — aboard a recreational sailboat — while engaging in local, public-facing outreach. We are working to understand the variations in red coloration among small planktonic crustaceans known as copepods. Furthermore, we seek to demonstrate that low-carbon science is both feasible and viable, while raising awareness among researchers, students, and the communities living along the St. Laurent river.

The mission was conceived and carried out by doctoral and postdoctoral students from Université Laval in Quebec City. We conduct outreach for this project in schools, through scientific talks, and via Facebook and Instagram (@mission_isseo). Among the various imaging tools employed, the “Curiosity microscope” has enabled us to observe and showcase the planktonic life of the St. Laurent river. It is a tool perfectly suited for low-carbon expeditions aboard sailboats, where space and electricity can be in short supply.