Sail for the Ocean: Meet The Polar Pod Crew lead by Jean Louis Etienne
Join us for an exclusive evening with the explorers behind Persévérance and Polar POD—discover how their groundbreaking expeditions are reshaping ocean and climate research.
Come share an inspiring evening with the crew of the renowned French explorer Jean-Louis Étienne, whose expeditions bridge science, exploration, and hope for our planet.
Fresh from their latest stop in the United States, the team will share stories from Persévérance, one of the world’s largest polar research sailing vessels, and Polar POD, a zero-emission vertical oceanographic platform soon to drift around the Antarctic.
Why attend
This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to meet a crew that has spent over twenty-five years traveling through the world’s most extreme seas—collecting crucial data on climate change, plankton biodiversity, ocean oxygen, and microplastic pollution.
You will hear firsthand how these innovative missions are shaping international climate science and marine protection efforts.
What you will discover
Insights into the next three global expeditions launching toward the Southern Ocean
How satellite technology and at-sea sampling help map plankton ecosystems
Why zero-emission oceanography is key to the future of climate research
Behind-the-scenes life aboard Persévérance—from navigation in ice fields to onboard laboratories
Opportunities to engage, ask questions, and connect with a passionate sustainability community
About the expeditions (in motion here)
Persévérance (2025–2027) — a forty-two-metre eco-sailing vessel exploring the Arctic, the Antarctic, and protected marine areas to monitor biodiversity and pollution. Equipped with advanced sensors and laboratories, it transmits real-time data to forty-three institutions across twelve countries.
Polar POD (2027–2029) — an unprecedented zero-emission vertical vessel designed to drift around Antarctica, powered by wind and currents, gathering climate-critical data for UNESCO’s “Decade of the Ocean.”
When and where
Date: Thursday, October 23
Time: 6:00 – 8:00 p.m.
Location: Larsen at Hotel Laguna – intimate setting, limited capacity
Format
An evening of informal talks, a short multimedia presentation, open conversation, and time to meet the crew.
Speakers:
Elsa Pény Étienne (Director of Operations & Partnerships) and Zoé Lerouge-Hémar (Policy Environmentalist) will share the inside story of these expeditions and answer your questions.
Hosted by
Earth Boutique × recurvence × Jean-Louis Étienne Expeditions, and in partnership with the Persévérance and Polar POD teams.
We kindly ask that you attend if you register.
Given the intimate setting and limited seating, we prioritize invitations to peers from the sustainability, tech, non-profit, and finance sectors.