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What happens when a would-be lawyer stumbles into a remote Indigenous community in northern Alberta and never quite leaves? In Gabrielle Slowey’s case, it launched a career dedicated to exploring Indigenous self-government, resource politics, and the evolving future of the Canadian Arctic. A political scientist with a storyteller’s heart, Gabrielle has spent decades working closely with communities across the North – often in places no road can reach. She’s lived the research, crafting policy, sitting with elders, and even jumping into glacier lakes. Ahead of her upcoming journeys with Swan He...

"I enjoy guiding guests through new environments and being able to interpret what they’re seeing in real time."There are few people who can make solar physics feel as alive as Dr. Becca Robinson. A researcher, explorer, and gifted science communicator, she travels the world turning the mysteries of the cosmos into stories we can all understand. From drilling ice cores in Iceland to decoding solar flares with NASA’s MUSE mission, Becca’s journey has been one of curiosity, clarity, and connection. Her time spent lecturing on Arctic expeditions reflects her belief that exploration and education g...

What drives someone to return again and again to the ends of the Earth? For Nicki D’Souza, it’s not just the thrill of exploration – it’s the magic of nature, the stories of people, and the ever-changing rhythms of remote landscapes. We caught up with Nicki to talk bucket lists, polar bears, unforgettable encounters, and more…"I ended up on an expedition ship completely by chance, and I was immediately hooked.""You never just see the Northern Lights – you feel them!"Hi Nicki! You’ve spent decades at sea. What keeps the fire burning?Nicki: New itineraries, new exciting places to visit. Even com...

"Understanding our world, views, and hearing from an Inuit is something you can’t Google.""Let Greenland be a country where we care about our lands and environment."Few people can speak for Greenland the way Aleqa Hammond can. As the country’s first female Prime Minister and a lifelong advocate for Arctic culture and environmental protection, her voice carries the strength of generations. This summer, Aleqa joins Swan Hellenic’s Iceland to Greenland Roundtrip Cruise as an onboard cultural expert and guest lecturer. We sat down with her ahead of the voyage to talk about ice, identity, and why y...

"The Sun hasn’t merely been the subject of my research – it has shaped me and lit the path of my becoming.""Eclipses are the universe’s punctuation marks, moments where light and shadow choreograph a cosmic pause."There aren’t many people who have danced with the Sun like Madhulika Guhathakurta. A citizen scientist traveling aboard Swan Hellenic voyages, she brings with her decades of experience in heliophysics and a storyteller’s soul. Away from NASA on a holiday, she’s on a new kind of mission – sharing the science and spirit of solar phenomena with travelers at sea, from the Arctic skies to...

After decades of studying cooperative breeding in birds and the evolution of new frog species, and with a Ph.D. in biology, plus degrees in zoology, genetics and biochemistry, Uli Reyer now shares his knowledge aboard expedition cruises. His lectures blend deep scientific insight with accessible storytelling, inviting guests to see the polar world not just as a destination, but as a living system shaped by evolution, behavior and change, both natural and man-made."I didn’t just want to see nature – I wanted to understand why it’s that way.""For a scientist like me, deserts are a paradise."Hi U...

"Polar travel has reminded me that every environment can benefit from our actions to lessen our impact and reverse the mistakes of our past.""By experiencing these life-changing places, and sharing your experience with others, we become ambassadors for polar regions and the wonderful web of life that lives there."Kevin Snair’s passion for nature runs as deep as the fjords he now explores for a living. From a childhood in rural Nova Scotia to polar expeditions in Antarctica and the Arctic, his journey has been shaped by curiosity, resilience, and a thirst for adventure.Hey Kevin, what first i...

"You can’t leave Greenland without it changing you. You can’t shake it.""The Arctic isn't just visually stunning – it’s an entirely different sensory experience. The silence can be deafening." Watching polar bears hunt, exploring fjords, and the deafening sound of silence? Stanford-educated engineer-turned-Greenland-advocate, Arielle Montgomery shares her thoughts on photography, climate change, and the best way to really see Greenland…You've visited every town in Greenland. What does that journey mean to you?Arielle: I am a completionist, so I am one of the few foreigners and one of the onl...