Page 35: of Marine Technology Magazine (January 2024)

JIM MCNEILL:

LEADING EARTH’S

CITIZEN WARRIORS

ACROSS THE SEA

By Celia Konowe n the face of intensifying climate change and McNeill, former scientist and internationally renowned associated environmental unknowns, one world British explorer, has more than 36 years of experience travel- explorer has spent decades mobilizing individu- ling and working in polar regions. His aptitude for leading als with the knowledge tools to better live, work and the outdoors was sparked at a young age by participating and play harmoniously with nature. Many com- in a winter course of Outward Bound, a UK-founded outdoor munities, particularly from the Industrial Revo- education organization, that led to lifelong interests in rock lution through modern society today, have an in- climbing and mountaineering. His career since has taken him herently discordant relationship with the earth, across the harshest ecosystems, including roles in the envi- no longer seeing themselves and their actions as ronmental sector, military, emergency services and commu-

I part of the global ecosystem. Enter Jim McNeill, nications. founder of Ocean Warrior, and his accompanying ethos that to He’s also served as consultant on extreme environments for better understand the planet and how to maintain life on Earth, numerous projects, from the BBC’s Frozen Planet to Captain humans need to take the pulse of the planet. America.

“As I’m on deck here, I can’t help but think about the sto- The Foundation Expedition last September marked the start ries that inspire me, of sailors getting in one of these wooden of a new realm in McNeill’s journey to bridge discovery and vessels and sailing as far north as they possibly could,” says citizen science: the ocean. While similar work has been con-

McNeill from the SV Linden, Ocean Warrior’s three-masted ducted since 2001 as part of McNeill’s ? rst warrior program, schooner, while sailing north past Svalbard during Septem- Ice Warrior, “the oceans are a new domain for me and I like ber’s Foundation Expedition. “It was all about endeavor… to do my homework thoroughly,” he shared. The Foundation and reaching the North Pole, ultimately, that was the goal. Expedition was exactly that: a chance to see how the Linden

I’ve never been motivated by glory,” he chuckled, “but by operated and to build the leadership dynamic with Captain ? nding out exactly what’s happening to this ocean all over.” Rasmus Jacobsen. www.marinetechnologynews.com 35

MTR #1 (34-49).indd 35 1/30/2024 4:07:37 PM