Paige Maroni

Polar BLAST pushes the boundaries of exploration by redefining who can reach the polar and deep-sea world, and by demonstrating that impactful science can be achieved far beyond traditional research models. I co-founded Polar BLAST in my twenties with the belief that exploration should not be limited to large vessels or long-established institutions. Instead, largely through the Yachts for Science initiative, I use vessels of opportunity and small, agile teams to open new pathways into regions that are cold, deep, remote, logistically complex, data-deficient, and often prohibitively expensive for scientists to access.

By transforming these vessels into platforms for high-impact research, I pair advanced subsea technologies with hands-on fieldwork to reach places where freezing temperatures, unpredictable sea ice, and isolation demand creativity, resilience, and calm decision-making. I put myself directly into these environments because exploration, for me, is a responsibility: to return with rigorous, meaningful data that strengthens our understanding of vulnerable marine ecosystems.

A core part of my mission is inclusive exploration and knowledge sharing. Through Polar BLAST, I supervise higher-degree students, design field placements, and create environments that intentionally build skills, confidence, and scientific curiosity. Watching students transform, from uncertain observers into capable, inspired explorers and researchers, is one of the most rewarding aspects of this work.

Polar BLAST works with engineers, ecotourism operators, and private vessel owners to create low-cost deep-sea tools and reach remote marine regions, helping to close some of the most significant gaps in global ocean access and discovery. This work demonstrates that exploration can be nimble, collaborative, and accessible, and that meaningful discovery does not require large budgets or large ships, only thoughtful design and committed people.

The impact of my work lies in expanding who can reach these fragile environments and ensuring that exploration returns meaningful, rigorous science. Through Polar BLAST, I have created pathways for students, young researchers, and citizen explorers to participate in polar and deep-sea discovery using platforms and technologies traditionally out of reach. Our data: new species records, 3D habitat maps, biodiversity baselines, feeds directly into conservation planning, climate research, and policy frameworks that guide how these regions are protected.

But the impact I value most is human, reflected in the people who carry these discoveries forward as vessels of change. I have watched students, vessel crew, expedition guests, and private vessel owners’ step aboard with curiosity and leave transformed after witnessing a seafloor appear in real time on a ROV screen. When people take part in discovery, exploration becomes something shared. It opens minds, reshapes futures, and builds a broad community of stewards who carry that experience forward.

My hope for the future is that polar and deep-sea ecosystems become as recognised and championed as the Amazon or Great Barrier Reef. I want sustainable, research-focussed exploration to become more accessible, diverse, and collaborative so that anyone can document these extraordinary environments and safeguard the ocean systems that sustain our planet.