Monaco Students Invited to Join “Students on Ice” Polar Expedition Programme

Monaco’s next generation of environmental ambassadors is preparing for a journey to the far reaches of the planet as the latest edition of the international “Students on Ice” programme officially opens to high school students in the Principality.

The launch event was held in the presence of Jean-Philippe Vinci, Director of Education, Youth and Sport, alongside former participants Carolina Massey and Alexandrine Noghès, who returned to share their first-hand experiences of exploring the polar regions.

Since 2010, the globally recognised Students on Ice initiative has offered young people the opportunity to take part in educational expeditions to the Arctic and Antarctic, guided by leading scientists, educators and environmental experts. In Monaco, the programme is supported by the Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation, in partnership with the Department of Education, through an annual competition open to first-year secondary school students.

Participants are selected through photography and written expression categories, with winners earning a coveted place on a 15-day Arctic expedition alongside an international cohort of students. To date, more than 30 students from Monaco have taken part, gaining invaluable insight into fragile polar ecosystems and the visible impacts of climate change.

Beyond the adventure itself, the programme aims to strengthen scientific understanding and cultivate environmental responsibility among Monaco’s youth. By witnessing the realities of global warming in some of the planet’s most vulnerable regions, participants return to the Principality as informed ambassadors—ready to raise awareness and inspire action within their communities and beyond.