Sailors for Ocean Science: Free Range Ocean on the Explore North Podcast

This week Explore North’s popular sailing podcast dropped a compelling new episode, “Sailors for Ocean Science,” featuring Free Range Ocean co-founder Duncan Copeland in conversation with Norwegian sailor, author, and podcaster Jon Amtrup.

It’s a must-listen for anyone who sees sailing not just as an adventure on the water, but as a chance to contribute to vital ocean science.

In the episode, Duncan shares the story behind Free Range Ocean, our non-profit we launched to bridge cruising life with citizen science.

From coral reef surveys to microplastic collection, our Free Range Ocean Citizen Science Directory now includes nearly 50 different ocean projects that cruising sailors can join at sea.

We hope it's a nice reminder that every sailor is uniquely positioned to help gather data that researchers need to understand and protect the marine environment.

Jon Amtrup, the host of the Explore North podcast, is a lifelong mariner and storyteller. He's crossed the Atlantic multiple times, circumnavigated Svalbard, and sailed extensively along Norway’s dramatic coastlines — in both summer and winter conditions. Beyond miles under keel, Jon is also a respected journalist and author of several sailing books, including High Latitude Sailing and Sail to Svalbard, and a fellow member of The Explorers Club and the Royal Geographical Society.

Jon's background as both a communicator and an adventurer makes him a natural fit for exploring the intersections of life at sea and the broader environmental pressures facing our oceans.

For cruising sailors looking to get more involved in meaningful ocean work should tune in to the episode for ideas, inspo and encouragement!

Duncan’s enthusiasm for accessible citizen science — paired with Jon’s thoughtful questions — make for a great conversation!

You can listen to Podcast #187: Sailors for Ocean Science on Explore North's website or wherever you get your podcasts.

If you’ve ever wondered how your next passage could make a real difference for the planet, this episode will leave you inspired and ready to set sail with purpose.