BLOG - PARTimap expedition
The PLAnT-PARTIMAP Expedition:
PARticipatory MAPping in Antarctica
In late January 2026, PLAnT team members will embark in their first expedition to Antarctica.
They will develop in-person, semi-structured interviews with key stakeholders of Antarctica and the Southern Ocean,
to explore perceptions on the spatial-temporal distribution of existing ocean uses, areas of ecological-biological
importance, areas of concern (e.g., environmental change), and values associated to such areas.
Questions will also explore stakeholder perceptions on environmental change,
the vulnerability of marine social-ecological systems in the region, and
potential adaptive solutions.
featuring a guided spatial survey to be implemented through “SeaSketch” (www.seasketch.org).
trial the initial stage of abroad participatory mapping
process with key stakeholders of Antarctica and the Southern Ocean, to
support the potential development of a sustainable “climate-smart” marine
spatial planning (MSP) initiative in the region.
SeaSketch is an interactive geographical information system tool optimised for
spatial data collection and map-based discussions, widely used in MSP
initiatives to support stakeholder engagement. A dedicated "PLANT-PARTIMAP
SeaSketch project” will be created featuring stakeholder-specific questions
designed to retrieve both qualitative and spatial insights into participants’
experiential knowledge. Questions will Under PLANT-PARTIMAP, two main types of
stakeholder groups will be consulted: (i) research station managers; (ii)
scientists. Engagement will be pursued in a flexible manner, under the guidance
of the coordination personnel, to minimize disruption of research activities. All
interviews will be anonymous, participation will be voluntary, and respondents
will be able to decline answering any question, or decide leaving the survey at
any time. Information received will be treated in strict compliance with data
protection and privacy regulations. Data will be used for scientific purposes
only and published in aggregated form and anonymised.
's work in Antarctica emerged from an unexpected discovery: despite decades of polar research, there was no formal process for marine spatial planning on the continent. Through the MSPOLAR project and now with the PLAnT project, the researcher's team is filling this gap and putting the issue on the international agenda.
PLANT-PARTIMAP will also contribute to promote literacy on climate-smart
MSP with consulted stakeholder groups. To build climate-smart MSP literacy
among stakeholders, outreach materials will be shared in research stations --
e.g. informative posters and pamphlets with communication channels for
future, remote, engagement.
Finally, PLANT-PARTIMAP will provide key information to support broader work
developed under the EU-funded project PLAnT (ERC-2023-StG-101117443;
www.plantproject.eu) on the benefits and challenges of planning for
sustainable ocean use in Antarctica under global environmental and social
change. The development of interviews under PLANT-PARTIMAP constitutes
therefore the first step of a broader participatory mapping process that will
involve a wider range of stakeholders — e.g., policymakers, industry, nongovernmental
organizations. It will allow the team to trial the interviewing
process while collecting key baseline information to inform climate-smart MSP
in the region.
Embark in this voyage with us!
