Svetlana Mikhailova, MSc

What’s the work that you do?

At a polar station in the Arctic, I studied freshwater composition (lakes and rivers). Since 2022, I have worked as a voyage hydrochemist on marine cruises, analysing seawater in the Kara, Barents, and Caspian Seas. In 2024, I served as a marine mammal and bird observer in the Sea of Okhotsk. My work includes water sampling, nutrient and oxygen analysis, data processing, equipment maintenance, and supporting research on Arctic ecosystem responses to climate change. I have collaborated with international teams on long-term environmental monitoring.

What keeps you going?

I am driven by curiosity about how Arctic freshwater and marine ecosystems respond to climate change. I love the combination of field work and lab analysis — collecting samples from remote lakes or from a ship in rough seas, then uncovering stories hidden in the water chemistry. Seeing a whale or a rare seabird during an observer shift reminds me why this matters. I also value the sense of purpose: polar regions change fast, and every data point helps understand that change. Lastly, I enjoy the people — resilient, passionate researchers who choose challenging conditions because they care.

What’s your message to the world?

Polar regions are not distant wastelands. They are our planet’s early warning system — unique, breathtakingly beautiful places that, due to their harsh climate, remain largely unexplored and fascinating for research. Every river I sample and every sea I cross tells a story of change. But change is not just data — it is a message. Polar regions play a crucial role in shaping global weather patterns, driving ocean currents, and reflecting solar radiation back into space. My message is this: listen to the ice, the water, and the silence.