The Captain

At 43 years old, my journey has been anything but conventional. Originally trained as a computer scientist with a PhD, I pursued this path not only as a practical career choice but also knowing it would provide stability. Originally I pursued a career in academia, but after witnessing the realities of a long series of short-time contracts which (and only if lucky) might end in tenure, I reoriented myself. So, after completing my PhD, and a short stint in the consulting world, I worked in my family's telecommunications business before transitioning to aviation, flying as a commercial pilot—a role that took me across vast distances but left little room for deeper exploration of the natural world.

When the COVID-19 pandemic hit, I lost my position as a pilot and suddenly had time to embark on a journey I had long dreamed of—a sailing trip to Lofoten and back to Bergen, partly solo. Experiencing Norway's raw and remote coastal landscapes firsthand reignited my long-standing interest in biology, an interest I had originally set aside for a more stable career. This experience inspired me to return to academia, and I am currently working towards a MSc in Biology.

During the pandemic, I also became increasingly aware of how science is frequently misunderstood, misquoted, and misinterpreted in public discourse. The lack of knowledge about how scientific research is conducted fueled widespread misinformation and skepticism, which only deepened my conviction that scientific literacy needs to be more accessible. This realization, combined with my passion for exploring and understanding the natural world, led me to create this initiative—an opportunity to bring together scientific research, exploration, and education into a single experience.

Now, through this project, I combine my skills in navigation, research, and education to offer a unique platform for both adventurers and scientists. The goal is to provide hands-on experiences that foster curiosity, inspire discovery, and build a deeper appreciation for the natural world, all while conducting meaningful research in some of the most breathtaking and remote areas on Earth.

If you want to talk about this project, have any suggestion or you are interested in a cooperation, don't hesitate and write me an email: thorsten@nordsail.net