Magnus Jonsson, founder of Ocean Search and an internationally renowned creative mind in the field of digital information technology, assembled a team of NGOs and research groups to collect and share information about the state of our seas and oceans by providing traditional specialist tools to a fleet of private sailing boats, which are envisioned to work in the capacity of research vessels and collect scientific data.
Jonsson believes that due to the barrage of scientific information available in our daily lives, we have become detached and rather passive receivers of information, which is often difficult to understand in the first place, according to his TEDx Japan presentation.
Actions of Ocean Search encourage a situation where we may transition from being passive listeners of science to active participants in the generation of scientific data and information, through the use of ‘crowd-sourced’ fleets/vessels. The vision of Ocean Search also includes the need for collaboration between stakeholders, such as scientists, NGOs, public, fishermen, in order to generate dialogue and information-sharing on critical issues affecting our seas and oceans.
Storytelling, collaboration, networking and visualization are some of the most important aspects of this project.
Ocean Search is now touring the Baltic Sea, using the first sailing yacht equipped with research tools, the ‘Journeyman’ . Results of this research will generate ‘water readings as online visualizations’. The expedition is expected to enter the Atlantic waters in September.
Follow Ocean Search and the ‘Journeyman’ online!