What it Takes to Videoconference from a Boat in the Middle of the Pacific Ocean

Conducting a live video broadcast in the middle of the Pacific Ocean is quite challenging, especially when one lives on a boat and spends more time off it, underwater, than onboard. Despite the challenges, Global Reef Expedition (GRE) researchers successfully conducted two live educational broadcasts while conducting research in the Galapagos earlier this year. — One broadcast streamed straight to US schools while the other was beamed to the Smithsonian’s Museum of Natural History.

Mobile devices and built-in computer cameras make it easy to overlook the challenges of conducting a live broadcast from the field. To find out what it really takes to go live from the middle of the mighty Pacific, watch the video below.

The GRE is a five-year effort that aims to identify coral reef sites of high priority for protection and conservation. Earlier this year, the GRE visited the Galapagos Islands where researchers collaborated with local partners to conduct management-driven reef research.

The Galapagos Islands are an archipelago of volcanic islands situated around the equator in the Pacific Ocean, some 1,000km off the coast of South America. Often called a ‘living museum and showcase of evolution,’ the Galapagos Islands are located at the confluence of multiple ocean currents making them a ‘melting pot’ of marine biodiversity.

The research conducted by the GRE in the Galapagos is expected to assist in developing strategies to mitigate human impacts and improve reef resilience both in the Galapagos and other locations across the globe.