25 March 2025

Launch of the CASCADES expedition: Call for projects for a scientific expedition to the Arctic

The French Polar Institute, the Institut nordique du Québec (INQ), the Swiss Polar Institute (SPI) and the Canadian program Transforming Climate Action (TCA) announce the opening of a call for proposals for the CASCADES expedition.

A mission to strengthen scientific cooperation

The CASCADES expedition aims to foster collaboration between research communities in Switzerland, France and Canada. Aboard the Canadian research icebreaker CCGS Amundsen, researchers will have the opportunity to work on the west coast of Greenland, Baffin Bay and Ellesmere Island. The mission will take place in two 28-day stages, combining scientific work and transit.

The different stages

The first stage will follow a south-to-north route along the west coast of Greenland, offering sampling opportunities.

The fjords to be studied will be selected on the basis of successful proposals. Each area will be explored over two to three days, depending on the scientific needs of the projects.

The second stage will focus on the early stages of pack ice formation in Baffin Bay, between Nares Strait and Davis Strait.

A call to the scientific community

This call is open to research teams based in Switzerland and France, as well as to researchers affiliated with the Canadian program Transforming Climate Action (TCA). Collaborative projects involving Canadian, French and Swiss researchers are particularly encouraged.

Submission deadline: June 2, 2025

Fieldwork period: summer and autumn 2026

Detailed information and submission of proposals can be found here.