Applications are now CLOSED for 2025
See below for descriptions of expeditions from 2024.
The Iceland Expedition is a well-established expedition, taking place for the 16th time in the summer of 2024. A team of 6 students travelled to East Iceland and stayed in the Skálanes research station for 6 weeks. The place is very remote, requiring a 17km journey across 3 fords to reach Skálanes reserve from the nearest town, Seyðisfjörður, which has a population of around 700. Iceland is the only expedition located in the Arctic and has a very unique climate.
Skálanes is home to many animal and plant species. In the summer, many migratory birds such as the Arctic terns and puffins nest in the area to breed. Bird watchers will be amazed by the bird abundance and diversity that can be observed just from the house. In 2024, students had the chance to see a lot of birds including Arctic skua and the impressive Harlequin ducks. Several herds of reindeer remained close to the house for the duration of the expedition, and occasionally the team woke to find them walking around on the decking outside. The team also spotted Humpback whales, Minke whales and seals on many occasions.
This summer, students continued monitoring of vulnerable coastal seabirds which act as indicators of wider marine health, adding to a valuable long-term dataset which allows tracking of any population trends. Projects also contributed to knowledge on the ecological impacts of introduced species, with monitoring of the impact of Alaskan Lupine on freshwater and terrestrial invertebrate populations as well as freshwater nutrient content. Sampling was also conducted in areas where management techniques (tree planting) had been employed to evaluate their impact, all of which could inform future ecological restoration projects. Also, a baseline observational study of reindeer was conducted which could act as a starting, reference point for many potential future projects on the local reindeer herds. The research opportunities at Skálanes are numerous and not limited to wildlife projects.
This expedition is an opportunity to experience living away from civilisation, learn about the local fauna and flora and contribute to research helpful for the management of the reserve. You can gain life experience and skills in scientific fieldwork, organisation, fundraising and communication while meeting people from around the world.
We are excited to announce that we are looking for 2 leaders and 4-6 team members to join the 2025 Egypt expedition, which will focus on marine-based research in the Red Sea. This year’s expedition centred on coral reef health and biodiversity, but the new team will have the flexibility to pursue other marine topics while building on the foundations laid in 2024. If you are passionate about marine conservation, research, and community outreach, this is an amazing opportunity to contribute to important work while experiencing the rich marine ecosystems of Egypt.
Research in Egypt with the Exploration Society has been ongoing for over ten years, with the first expedition team heading to Egypt in 2014. Since then, year after year, we’ve built valuable partnerships, expanded our research projects, and engaged deeply with the local community.
In 2024, our team conducted vital research on coral reef diversity, fish abundance and behaviour and clam size and distribution. One of the most exciting projects involved identifying individual blue-spotted rays by studying the unique spot patterns on their backs. This research aims to map the rays’ habitat preferences and territorial behaviours, with the goal of turning it into a citizen science project to engage the public in tracking the species.
The expedition was based at Roots Red Sea Resort, which served as our home for four weeks. During our stay, we collaborated with the Open Ocean Science Centre, which provided invaluable resources for our research and introduced us to citizen science initiatives like Turtle Watch, Coral Watch and Dive 4 Diadema. Our community outreach efforts also played a significant role in the expedition. We partnered with QuseirSEAS to engage local school children through presentations and workshops, including beach cleanups and art sessions where the kids learned about marine life and conservation.
When the team wasn’t collecting data or leading educational outreach, we enjoyed the recreational side of expedition life. Many of our team members experienced their first boat dives with Pharaoh Dive Club and downtime often included relaxing by the camp’s pool or exploring the nearby old town. These activities helped us bond as a team while allowing us to experience the local culture and environment.
The 2025 expedition will offer opportunities to expand on the work already completed or to take on new research challenges in marine conservation. If you’re interested in joining a team dedicated to scientific research, community engagement and adventure, follow us on Instagram at @uofgmarineegypt or email us at egyptexpedition23@gmail.com for more information.
The Remote Scotland expedition aims to travel to areas in Scotland and study species, the environment, and more.
This is the longest running expedition of the Exploration society, starting in 1936 on the Isle of Canna.
Over the years, expedition teams have studied a wide range of ecological, geographical and earth science-based projects. The expedition is open all students – from any discipline – with a passion for research.
In 2017, the Remote Scotland team went to Islay. The team was made up of five zoologists, one earth scientist and two students studying environmental sustainability – everyone is welcome!
In 2018 the team travelled to the beautiful Isle of Harris, setting up some projects that were continued by the 2019 team.
After the gap in expeditions owing to the Covid-19 pandemic, the 2024 team were back to conduct three research projects on Harris and Lewis with the following themes: bee abundance and machair; sea stars and rockpool diversity; otters and the environment.
A major focus for 2024 was to evaluate potential future research topics, and engage with the community by talking to people about our research. The team connected with NatureScot, Species on the Edge, and many interesting individuals who shared our passion for the beauty and importance of Harris and Lewis, nature, and the environment as a whole.
The Thailand expedition team are looking for 2 team leaders and 6 team members to take part in our 2025 expedition! Please read below to find out all about our past expeditions! Fill out the form and have a go! If you have any questions drop us a message on our Instagram page.
The 2024 team travelled to Koh Phangan to work with COREsea (Centre for Oceanic Research and Education South East Asia) to conduct three marine projects.
There were three projects carried out this summer. The Giant Clam project investigated the abundance and distribution of different clam Giant Clam species on the reef flat and reef crest. Secondly, the Barrel Sponge project investigated the development of the population and changes in distribution and abundance. The third project investigated the biodiversity changes of corals due to coral bleaching and the effect of bleaching on colony size and growth forms. The data collection for these projects was collected while diving reefs on the north coast of Koh Phangan. The team conducted one dive a day for 5 days a week to collect data, and in the afternoons they would input and analyse the data that was collected.
Aside from all the hard work, the team enjoyed fun dives at Sail Rock and Koh Tao, a day trip to Ang Thong Marine park, amazing Thai food from the local restaurants, local night markets, hikes on the island and snorkelling and swimming on the beautiful beaches.
If you have any further questions, please don’t hesitate to get in touch with the team at expeditionthailandgu@gmail.com.
The Republic of Trinidad and Tobago, located in the Lesser Antilles within the West Indies is composed of two main islands. This year’s expedition focused on the smaller of the two, Tobago, with our team based in Charlotteville, a town nestled on the northeastern tip of the island within the scenic Man-O-War Bay. Once part of the South American mainland, Tobago is renowned for its incredible biodiversity, home to many unique and endemic species. One of its most prominent features is the ‘Main Ridge,’ a mountainous spine that includes the Tobago Main Ridge Forest Reserve. Established in 1776, this reserve holds the distinction of being the world’s oldest legally protected forest reserve.
Our 2024 expedition was centred around five research projects: moths, butterflies, herpetology, invertebrates, and a behavioural study on the island’s motmots. Fieldwork for all these projects spanned various locations across the island, with a particular focus on the Main Ridge Forest Reserve. The moth research took place at night, using LED light traps to attract and capture specimens for analysis. For the butterfly study, our team employed bait traps and conducted transect surveys during the day. The herpetology project used pitfall traps and transect lines, with surveys conducted both during the day and at night, to study reptiles and amphibians. Meanwhile, the invertebrate research also utilized pitfall traps and bush beating techniques, gathering data during both daytime and nighttime sessions to assess the variety of invertebrate species. The motmot study took a behavioural approach, using camera traps to observe the feeding habits of these birds, particularly how they use anvils to crack open prey.
In addition to our research efforts, we made community outreach a priority by presenting our research findings at the local library as a community talk, aiming to spark interest in the natural environment on both a local and global scale. Our team also participated in beach cleanups organized by local NGOs, contributing to the island’s conservation efforts.
Please see our presentation in the Proposals Evening recording for more information.
If you have any questions hit us up on our Instagram @uofgtobagoexp or by email: trinidadexp@gmail.com
