(1/n) We live on a blue planet - so its essential to study life across it's vast oceans. But research vessels costs $50,000 per day to operate - they are essential, but we "also" need more inclusive/frugal means to explore our oceans. Enter "seatizens" https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1101/2020.08.31.263442v1

(2/n) Honored to join forces with Colomban, @phytopk - and the entire PlanktonPlanet ( https://planktonplanet.org ) team including @chevreuil3000 Sarah, Noan, Xavier.. @fabien_lombard to bring a new way of thinking about biological oceanography where sailors play a critical role..

(3/n) If you think about it - “Sailors” are yet untapped scientific s/heros (seatizen scientist), the "planktonauts" that can help execute on behalf of all the world ocean. At this given moment, thousands of citizen sailing boats are at sea, navigating the world ocean every day

(4/n) We provide proof of concept, how 20 crews of sailors were able to sample plankton biomass from the world surface ocean in a single year, generating the first citizen based, planetary dataset of plankton biodiversity based on DNA barcodes.

(5/n) The quality of this dataset is comparable to that generated by Tara Oceans. We present a unified view of how makers, sailors, scientists, activists & citizens can come together. This was a small demonstration of what is truly possible with the power of the people.

(6/n)With the first cohort of amazing sailors - and with their help; we produced scientific data and insights that rivals any other oceanographic expedition but almost at shoestring budget.

(7/n) Ocean has remained an unknown to “planet earth” citizens - let’s all change that together, one sailboat at a time. Our ancestors went out to sea with no idea of what lies beyond the horizon and often no hopes of returning back.

(8/n) Combined with our efforts to invent frugal science tools for oceanography - like Plankt-O-scope - we are ready to empower community that would like to engage. See previous thread here: https://twitter.com/PrakashLab/status/1258283834568663043?s=20

(9/n) We owe it to life on this planet to understand and preserve it - move away from what humanity can exploit out of ocean as “just another resource” but make visible what we will loose if we don't stop unsustainable practices.

(10/n) To see the beauty of microscopic world of the ocean, you need to come with us on a microscopic journey of its true inhabitants - grab your nets & boats - the time has come. Please reach out if you can support this initiative - which still runs on a shoestring (literally)

(11/n) We are so thrilled to be launching plankton planet - a society of curious citizens passionate to reignite exploration as it was meant to be. A true partnership between a sailor and a scientist; both explorers at heart ready to embrace the rough weather of climate change..

(12/n) Find more about our work at https://planktonplanet.org/  and reach out if you would like to partner and bring the dream of Oceanography 3.0 a reality. Kudos to PlanlktonPlanet team and Colomban for bringing us all together! We have a long way to sail - so lets get started.