UP AND UNDER
DRONE-PLANKTON BASED RESEARCH AND CONSERVATION
up and under
The ‘Up and Under’ project, inspired by both Ocean Alliance and the teams history of innovating in Plankton collection and filming, has the possibility to change the way in which one of the most important groups of ocean creatures, is collected, monitored and researched.
A Mixed approach of engineering, filming and research, aided by advancing drone technologies..
THE UP AND UNDER PROGRAMME
"Through a combination of tried and tested existing practices, with novel
and innovative technologies, as well as an experienced team in every aspect of what we are trying to do, we think we can create the foundation of an important new method and wave of plankton research, conservation and education..."
BASED ON
Planktons Importance in our Ocean Ecosystems
An Experienced Drone Support Team
Global Ambitions and Expansion Plans
a HOLLISTIC APPROACH GUIDED BY ENGINEERING
Our team is currently creating the capability for an autonomous, vertical, self-descending and self-ascending plankton trawl, that can be designed to go truly deep, if required, and re-ascend with no gas emission of any sort, and all descent weighting being truly organic and self ‘composting’. Furthermore, functional in remote locations with the use of drones. The programme aims to incorporate a holistic approach to plankton biology, blending research, conservation and action.
INSPIRATION
Focusing on the little stuff, inspired by the big stuff… One of the inspirations behind our Up and Under project, was a conversation with the Snot Bot project by Ocean Alliance and their CEO Iain Kerr.
Research
Using drone technology and combining this project with an OSC venue, and importantly the live filming capabilities, we not only have the ability to collect, but to film – almost instantly.
conservation
In time, we hope that the data in association with climate data, can help understand and inform further research and conservation on such a fundamentally important part of our Oceans.
THE IMPORTANCE OF PLANKTON
The basic fact is that the very smallest marine life forms sustain the very largest, and very few folks ever study and reveal the life and times of the very smallest, only the very biggest. If we look after our plankton, then we look after our marine environment. We want this to be a first step…
"Plankton is foundational to everything, providing the base to most food chains and more than 50% of the oxygen we breathe. Trends in plankton can indicate bigger trends in ecosystem health as well as changes in climate change..."
THE NEXT STEP
The next step is waiting for the launch of our OSC in Charlestown, giving us a physical venue of which to launch our programme from. In the meantime the team is testing the principles and engineering of the early designs, whilst talking with other organisations working in similar fields…
