Year 2 -
Clean Planet Peninsula
Arctic Training
From an initial pool of 40 participants, 9 early-career research scientists will be selected to undertake polar and scientific training in May 2025.
The selected partipants will be travelling to Ymberbukta (Svalbard), on the edge of the Arctic Circle.
This year we are also very excited to introduce Captain Preet Chandi as our expedition leader.
'Polar Preet' joins the project as Expedition Leader!
Captain Preet Chandi is a former British Army Officer and physiotherapist, she served in the Royal Army Medical Corps for 16 years. In 2022, Preet became the ninth woman in history to ski solo to the South Pole and the first woman of colour to complete a solo expedition on the continent. Preet set out on her next adventure, during which, she broke two Guinness world records for the longest solo unsupported one-way ski expedition by a woman and overall. As part of the endeavour, she covered 922 miles in 70 days.
She returned to Antarctica less than a year later for her fourth world record, completing the female speed record to the South Pole in 31 days, 13 hours, and 19 minutes. She completed this expedition on 28 Dec 2023.
In 2022, she completed more than four months of school talks all over the UK, reaching more than 18,000 students. That same year, she was appointed a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) as part of the Queen’s Birthday Honours.
She won the ‘Inspirational’ and ‘Woman of the Year’ awards at the inaugural Women in Defence event in October 2022 and became ‘Explorer of the Year 2023.’
Welcome to the project, Preet!
In 2025 and 2026, selected participants from this training group will travel with the project to the Arctic and Antarctic to undertake scientific research and further training. But who? Let's find out!
Meet the Participants
Announced Wednesday 23rd April 2025 at 5pm
Why Svalbard?
Svalbard is a remote Norwegian archipelago located in the Arctic Ocean, halfway between mainland Norway and the North Pole.
Known for its stark, dramatic landscapes of glaciers, mountains, and polar deserts, Svalbard offers one of the most extreme environments on Earth — and a perfect training ground for polar expeditions.
Population
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Around 2,500 residents, mostly in Longyearbyen (the administrative centre). Svalbard has no native population — all residents are from elsewhere
More Polar Bears Than People!
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It’s estimated that 3,000 polar bears live in the Svalbard region — more than the human population.
Land of the Midnight Sun & Polar Night:
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Midnight Sun: From April 19 to August 23, the sun never sets.
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Polar Night: From October 26 to February 15, the sun never rises.
Animals You May Encounter
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Arctic foxes, Svalbard reindeer, walruses, seals, whales, seabirds, and of course, polar bears.
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No mosquitoes or trees live in Svalbard — only hardy tundra vegetation survives.
• Coldest Month:
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February, with average temperatures around -20oC (-4oF).
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May is often around -5oC to -10oC but can feel colder with wind.
• And just for fun...
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Svalbard Global Seed Vault: A world-famous facility designed to store backups of the world’s crops in case of disaster.
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No Burials Allowed: The ground is permafrost, so bodies don’t decompose. Burials are banned in Longyearbyen — anyone dying must be flown back to the mainland!
Year 2 - Learning Objectives
Develop Practical Field Skills
Gain hands-on experience in essential field techniques, including navigation, data collection, and survival skills, to prepare for research in extreme environments.
Understand Microplastic Pollution
Learn about the sources, distribution, and impacts of microplastics on ecosystems and human health, with a focus on polar regions.
Enhance Research Communication
Improve skills in effectively communicating scientific research to diverse audiences through various mediums.
Fundraising and Grant Writing
Acquire knowledge and strategies for securing funding for research projects, including writing successful grant proposals.
Environmental and Health Safety
Understand best practices for maintaining hygiene and safety in the field, including risk assessment and emergency response.
Public Engagement and Outreach
Learn how to engage with the public and raise awareness about environmental issues, contributing to informed global conservation efforts.
Inclusivity and Diversity in Science
Promote inclusivity and gender balance within the scientific community, empowering a diverse new generation of researchers.
Looking Ahead
As the Clean Planet Peninsula Project moves into its second year, the focus will shift to applying the skills learned in Dartmoor to the Arctic.
Selected participants from Year 1 will have the opportunity to travel to the Arctic, where they will conduct groundbreaking research on microplastic pollution and its effects on polar ecosystems.
Clean Planet Foundation
Organiser & Lead Sponsor
The Clean Planet Foundation (CPF) educates and takes action for the sustainable use of plastics, and reduction of carbon emissions. A not-for-profit organisation.
We believe that everyone deserves better, and provide community funding, sponsorship, investments and initiate flagship projects to mitigate the impact of the plastic and climate crises across the UK and beyond.
The Clean Planet Foundation is part of the Clean Planet Group which also builds technologies and infrastructure to remove hard-to-recycle plastic waste from the environment, and convert it into circular products.
