{"id":17612,"date":"2026-03-03T12:54:46","date_gmt":"2026-03-03T11:54:46","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/pacifique.ch\/pacific-expedition-2026-2030\/"},"modified":"2026-03-05T09:31:31","modified_gmt":"2026-03-05T08:31:31","slug":"pacifique-expedition-2026-2030","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/pacifique.ch\/en\/pacifique-expedition-2026-2030\/","title":{"rendered":"Pacifique Expedition 2026\u20132030"},"content":{"rendered":"

GENEVA, SWITZERLAND \u2013 Pacifique announces the launch of the Pacifique Expedition 2026\u20132030, a multi-year circumnavigation through the world\u2019s tropical belt. This will be not only a scientific expedition, but also an adventure in search of our roots around the world, in the company of Corto Maltese. This quest for our roots is a dual exploration: a scientific approach at the heart of the biological foundations of our coastal ecosystems, and a human journey to rediscover the fundamental drivers of resilience and solidarity that unite us. <\/strong><\/p>\n

PILLAR 1: RESEARCH IN EDUCATIONAL SCIENCES AND PSYCHOLOGY (YOUTH AT SEA)<\/strong><\/h3>\n

In collaboration with the University of Geneva (FPSE & CISA) and the University of Toulouse, this team studies the mechanisms of resilience and skills development. The Jeunes en Mer program offers a \u201cfloating refuge\u201d for vulnerable young people. The ship\u2019s environment provides a structured setting to study four major areas: learning regulation, socio-emotional dynamics, meaning-making, and the development of autonomy. A rigorous protocol involving interviews, observations, tests, and portable physiological recordings will make it possible to understand the phenomena studied in depth. <\/strong><\/p>\n

PILLAR 2: RESEARCH ON MANGROVES AND ECOSYSTEMS<\/strong><\/h3>\n

In collaboration with the F.-A. Forel Institute (UNIGE), the scientific mandate addresses the urgent crisis of mangrove loss. Although these forests are vital carbon sinks, the IUCN\u2019s 2024 Red List indicates that 50% of them are threatened with collapse. This project establishes an evolving, replicable model to safeguard these ecosystems through ecological assessment, carbon quantification, ecosystem mapping with local communities, and the creation of an open-access (open-source) database to support global conservation policy.<\/strong><\/p>\n

TECHNOLOGY INTEGRATION<\/strong><\/h3>\n

The expedition uses the PlanktoScope for automated imaging of plankton and microplastics. As part of a unique educational application, participants in the Jeunes en Mer<\/em> program will use this tool, providing direct primary data to scientific archives and turning their curiosity into validated research. <\/strong><\/p>\n

THE SHIP AND THE ITINERARY<\/strong><\/h3>\n

The Fleur de Passion<\/em>, a former German Navy vessel from 1941 converted for science and education, will follow the \u201cGreen Belt\u201d route:<\/strong><\/p>\n

    \n
  • 2026: Atlantic crossing to Brazil via The Gambia.<\/strong><\/li>\n
  • 2027: Panama Canal and the Pacific (from the Gal\u00e1pagos to New Caledonia).<\/strong><\/li>\n
  • 2028: The \u201cCoral Triangle\u201d and Asia (Indonesia, Vietnam).<\/strong><\/li>\n
  • 2029: Indian Ocean (Maldives, Kenya, Madagascar) to the Cape.<\/strong><\/li>\n
  • 2030: Return via the Atlantic and the Mediterranean.<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

     <\/p>\n

    CULTURE AND THE SPIRIT OF CORTO MALTESE<\/strong><\/h3>\n

    In partnership with CONG SA, the legendary sailor Corto Maltese will serve as \u201cspiritual captain.\u201d Writer Marco Steiner and Patrizia Zanotti will join the first legs of the journey to develop a new novel for Rizzoli, updating Hugo Pratt\u2019s legacy to address the environmental and cultural challenges of the 21st century through a poetic travel narrative. <\/strong><\/p>\n

    PRESENTATION CONFERENCE<\/strong><\/h3>\n

    To discover the expedition\u2019s vision and hear from our experts, you can watch the press conference held on March 3, 2026 at the Swiss Press Club (Geneva).<\/p>\n