PEUGEOT has continued and taken its partnership with the UNDER THE POLE underwater exploration program further. This program combines innovative expeditions around the world, scientific research, and actions to raise awareness about ocean conservation. PEUGEOT shares this philosophy: the brand has decided to place EDUCATION at the heart of its responsible strategy and focus its contribution on concrete educational actions impacting the environment.
The UNDER THE POLE program was founded by Ghislain Bardout and Emmanuelle Périé-Bardout in 2008 in Concarneau, France. It shares with PEUGEOT the ambition to use science and technology for environmental protection, particularly of the oceans. This program also works with the general public to raise awareness about the importance of this cause.
The three missions of UNDER THE POLE:
- Organize innovative expeditions around the world focused on the scientific exploration of the oceans, particularly in polar or isolated regions.
- Support scientific research, notably through the DEEPLIFE program, which explores marine animal forests in the mesophotic zone (30 to 200 meters deep) and their key role in the functioning of the marine ecosystem. The current mission, until October 15, 2024, in Greece, Italy, and France, seeks to determine if the Mediterranean mesophotic ecosystems can serve as refuge populations against climate change. These studies constitute a major research axis in the coming years to understand the connections between surface and mesophotic populations and to implement appropriate protection measures.
- Work on raising awareness and conserving the oceans, based on the conviction that knowledge only makes sense if it is shared. This work, oriented towards educating young people and raising public awareness, takes the form of an educational caravan presenting the discoveries of divers and scientists. Its immersive scenography inspires and enhances knowledge about marine ecosystems.
PEUGEOT commits alongside UNDER THE POLE
In line with these educational activities, it is only natural that PEUGEOT becomes the ‘Official Education Partner’ of UNDER THE POLE. This new commitment materializes in four ways:
- Through the co-creation of educational content dedicated to the behind-the-scenes of the expeditions, explanations of the scientific programs, and exploration techniques. These videos will find their place on PEUGEOT and UNDER THE POLE’s social media;
- By organizing educational days during the Greek and French stages of the Mediterranean mission between April and October 2024. PEUGEOT, with the active support of its Greek distributor Aiglon AE, and UNDER THE POLE worked to set up educational days for schoolchildren in Greece, where the program was conducting an exploration mission. On April 24, 50 children from Pteleos primary school attended an educational workshop combining beach cleaning, discovery of deep-sea diving equipment, and an explanatory visit of the scientific missions conducted on the exploration boat, the Why. Another day with Greek schoolchildren also took place on June 6 on the island of Fourni.
- Through joint speeches by the partners at professional events in the automotive, diving, and scientific research sectors.
- By highlighting PEUGEOT as the Official Education Partner on the sails and hull of the expedition boat, the Why.
- By providing two PEUGEOT BOXER to transport all the necessary equipment for the various missions of the program. The first Peugeot Boxer is used to tow the diving boat and transport the numerous equipment needed for the four missions of the Mediterranean program. The second Boxer is being used to tow the Under The Pole educational caravan across France for its ocean awareness actions with the general public and schoolchildren. This itinerant mission has raised awareness among more than 5000 people over the past 12 months.
PEUGEOT is also providing three 100% electric vehicles (E-208 and E-308 SW) to facilitate the daily movements of the Under The Pole teams in a “zero emissions” transport logic.
PEUGEOT is particularly proud of this partnership with UNDER THE POLE, which allows for the implementation of concrete and useful actions for the preservation of our environment. These educational actions are major elements of the Brand’s responsible commitment.
