Non-Technical Project Proposal DescriptionOne Ocean II Expedition – Arctic Future PathfindersJørgen Berge, UiT The Arctic University of Norway (UiT)One Ocean Expedition is a global project, and a recognized part of the UN Decade of OceanScience for Sustainable Development (2021-2030). The main goal is to create attention, stimulateocean science, and share knowledge about the crucial role of the ocean for sustainabledevelopment in a global perspective. Statsraad Lehmkuhl is one of the largest and oldest tall shipsin active use, and she is run by a non-profit foundation. In 2022/23, she completed the first OneOcean Expedition, a 20-month long circumnavigation of the world. In April 2025, One Ocean II willembark on another expedition, starting in 2025 in Bergen with a stop in Nice, France, where it will bea part of the One Ocean Science Congress and the UN Ocean Conference.The general research questions addressed during the circumnavigation of the One Ocean IIexpedition are:• How do biodiversity and indicators of human pressures vary over the world's ocean?• What is the distribution and vertical displacement of mesopelagic sound scattering layersacross the world's ocean?• What are the physical characteristics of the regions and water masses we pass through?• Is there a correlation between observations, models and satellite measurements, and canthe measurements be used to improve weather and ocean forecasting?UiT The Arctic University of Norway has chartered the vessel to sail through the Northwest Passagein the autumn of 2025 and the homeland of Inuit, Yupik, Unangan and Athabaskan peoples. Thebackbone of the voyage will be an interdisciplinary course for master’s students and doctoralfellows. There will also be a scientific program for this portion of the expedition.Our aim is to identify local Arctic challenges and make them visible on a wider public scale. We areinterested in contributing to a better understanding of the Arctic biome and environment, as well asthe future challenges local and global communities are facing by climate-driven changes in theArctic. Research and teaching with a focus on social sciences are of interest for amplifying voicesof Indigenous rights holders to a larger scientific and public audience. Our research evolves around:Assessment of fish and zooplankton populationsBiodiversity assessment using physical sampling, morphological and molecular (environmentalDNA) analysesBiotechnology: exploring marine bioactive compoundsUnderstanding changes in sea ice thicknessTechnology: safe and sustainable operations in remote areas with demanding weatherconditionsArctic Memoryscapes – documenting changes in Arctic coastal and underwater heritageInformation literacy by integrating Indigenous knowledge, experiential learning, and ExtendedReality technologiesOcean literacy: understanding and stewardship of marine environments through integratingdiverse knowledge systems and emotional literacyDocumenting, revitalizing, and integrating management and conservation practices ofIndigenous peoplesCreative futures thinking using experiential learning and worldbuilding through the courserunning on-boardInternational relations: interplay between the Arctic and Arctic local and Indigenous societieswith global political, economic, security processesArctic linguistic landscapesDidactics: students’ perspectives on teaching and learning processes in collaborativeinterdisciplinary project workEpidemiology and impact of diet transitions in Indigenous populationsHealth studies: impact of onboard watch system on health and wellness of OOII participantsThere are a range of sensors mounted to the ship which will measure the occurrence of marinemammals, currents, weather patterns, ocean temperature, and ocean light conditions. A vesselflow through system will continuously collect water samples. At certain stations along the voyage,water and organism samples will be collected from the marine environment. For this, we will useNiskin bottles (water samples), towed nets and fishing rods (zooplankton and fish), and boxcorers(sediment extraction from the seafloor). Most of the social sciences will take place on board andinvolve studies with the cruise participants themselves and their experiences. Extended reality andartificial intelligence are some of the tools that will be used. Some researchers will conductinterviews with local communities.Marine data collected with the vessels sensors will be made publicly and globally available throughNMDC (https://nmdc.no/en) following FAIR data principles within 12 months. Preliminary resultsgenerated under way will be shared with the community at organized events during the plannedstops on land. The voyage through the Northwest Passage will start in Nuuk on August 5th, 2025,and end in Anchorage October 4th, with planned stops in:Miitimatalik/Pond Inlet (August 14) OR Resolute/Qausuittuq (August 17) (for border andimmigration – weather and ice depending)Uqsuqtuuq/Gjoa Haven (August 22-26)Ikaluktutiak/Cambridge Bay (August 29 to September 2)Siqnazuaq/Nome (for US border and immigration)