Expedition members play on the ice at the North Pole beside the I/B Oden during the Canada-Sweden Arctic Ocean 2025 expedition / Michael Tjernström.
Exceptional Arctic Expedition Opens Doors for Early Career Ocean Professionals
by Jamie Contos
Early career ocean professionals (ECOPs) often struggle to find opportunities to gain hands-on experience without being established in the field. Participating in expeditions where unique field research opportunities are available is invaluable to early career development, yet access to such opportunities is not widely available.
To support the participation of Early Career Ocean Professionals (ECOPs), Canada’s Marine Environmental Observation, Prediction and Response Network (MEOPAR) provided travel grants for six ECOPs to join an Arctic research expedition in 2025, organized by the Swedish Polar Research Secretariat and the Geological Survey of Canada (NRCan).
From August 9 – September 19, 2025, the Swedish icebreaker I/B Oden, one of the most capable non-nuclear icebreakers in the world, carried out this expedition alongside the Canadian icebreaker CCGS Louis S. St-Laurent. The key objective on this voyage was to map the seabed in the Arctic Ocean alongside the extensive Early Career Scientist program that took place on board.
“To be able, as an early career scientist, to join an expedition in the Central Arctic Ocean for 6 weeks onboard one of the most capable icebreakers in the world is truly a unique opportunity!”
During the expedition, the ECOPs aboard the I/B Oden took part in the course “The Arctic Ocean Climate System”, where they learned valuable skills and hands-on techniques in polar research.
“The Swedish Polar Research Secretariat works closely with APECS (Association of Early Career Scientists) and strives to support young researchers in many contexts,” explained Åsa Lindgren, Deputy Director and Head of Department, Ship-Based Research Support, at The Swedish Polar Research Secretariat.
The 6 ECOPS supported on this expedition are not the only ones who will benefit from initiatives like this.
As an established international collaborator, the Swedish Polar Research Secretariat, in alignment with the Swedish Strategy for the Arctic region, is committed to supporting work under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS). I/B Oden has supported multiple UNCLOS missions.
The Canada-Sweden Arctic Ocean 2025 expedition was carried out jointly by the Geological Survey of Canada (NRCan) and the Swedish Polar Research Secretariat, under the Canadian UNCLOS program, with an agreement recently having been signed to do joint Canadian-Swedish expeditions in 2025, 2026 and 2027.
The success of the Canada–Sweden expedition highlights why it’s so important to create more pathways for Canadian researchers to take part in world-class science at sea, a goal at the heart of MEOPAR’s new Expedition Fund. The Fund provides training opportunities for ECOPs and helps Canadian researchers get to sea through rapid response missions, collaborative expeditions, or larger-scale investigations. Each of these supports advances national priorities in ocean science while ensuring the next generation has meaningful opportunities to grow.
“It’s impossible to have Canadians leading the world in scientific advancement without either the access to the best equipment or the knowledge on how to use it to the fullest,” said Jonathan Kellogg, Program Manager of Expeditions at MEOPAR.
“MEOPAR's Expedition Fund, along with its partners, is prioritizing getting Canadian talent access to the experiences needed to address today's present and emerging ocean issues.”
Unique initiatives like the Sweden-Canada expedition will lead to advancements in Canadian expertise in polar research.
To learn more about MEOPAR’s Expedition Fund and how it might help you get to sea, visit https://meopar.ca/training/meopars-expedition-fund-under-the-ssf/.
