Lindblad Announces 2026 Visiting Scientist Program Arctic Projects

The National Geographic Society and Lindblad Expeditions have unveiled the projects selected for the 2026 Arctic season’s Visiting Scientist Program.

The projects include six National Geographic Explorer-led projects spanning 11 voyages aboard the National Geographic Endurance and Resolution.

The company said in a press release that the Visiting Scientist Program is supported by the Lindblad Expeditions-National Geographic (LEX-NG) Fund.

“The Visiting Scientist Program demonstrates the power of our collaboration with Lindblad Expeditions to support field research and data collection in the world’s most remote environments,” said Ian Miller, chief science and innovation officer at the National Geographic Society.

According to Miller, the National Geographic Society and Explorers strive to document critical ecosystems and create evidence-based solutions to present-day challenges.

These six projects aim to expand the baseline understanding of the Arctic and include:

Arctic Microbial Diversity as Living Sentinels in a Changing Ocean

Led by National Geographic Explorer Catherine Ribeiro, the team collected and filtered seawater around Svalbard and along the coast of Norway in April 2026.

Microbial Gateways of the North Atlantic: Examining Arctic Plankton

Led by National Geographic Explorer Gabrielle Corradino, this project will collect plankton in Iceland and Greenland to understand biodiversity patterns.

Ice at the Edge: Walls of Change

Led by National Geographic Explorer Catherine Walker, this project will embark in July 2026 to record geophysical data and imagery of glaciers in southern Greenland.

Long-term Monitoring of Rocky Shore Temperatures and Biodiversity

Led by National Geographic Explorer Rui Seabra, this project is establishing a monitoring system for rocky shore habitats across the Atlantic Ocean.

Primary Productivity Potential of Polar Microbial Communities

Led by National Geographic Explorer Allison Fong, this project will assess changes in microbial productivity in response to a warming ocean in the Svalbard archipelago.

Mapping Microplastics and Microfibers in Water and Air

Led by National Geographic Explorer Rachael Zoe Miller, this project will collect microplastics and microfibers from seawater and air along a long transect from Greenland to Iceland to Scotland beginning in September 2026.

This year marks the fourth consecutive Arctic season that the LEX-NG Fund has supported research through the Visiting Scientist Program.