An old myth meets new technology ahead of huge Loch Ness search

We have teamed up with Interface, the crucial intermediary between academia and industry, to nurture collaborations that drive economic growth and societal advancement. In the realm of Loch Ness research, Interface is facilitating partnerships between academic researchers and us here at the centre, enabling the integration of cutting-edge tools and methodologies to advance the understanding of the Loch Ness ecosystem and its mysteries, representing a significant step forward in scientific exploration.

Academics Stepped Forward

A range of universities have stepped forward to increase the understanding of Loch Ness and its environment. Amongst these, Academics from the School of Engineering, University of Aberdeen have offered  to deploy an advanced digital holographic camera in the waters of Loch Ness as part of their ongoing research. Dubbed weeHoloCam, the technology is capable of producing several thousand digital holographic images of microscopic marine organisms in one dive, and uses the latest in Artificial Intelligence techniques to classify the images and could even record some “baby” Nessies. weeHoloCam is being extensively used in the seas and lochs around the UK but has  never before been used on the freshwaters of Loch Ness.

90 years since the first surface watch

This year marks ninety years since pioneering adventurer Sir Edward Mountain and his team of twenty became the first ‘Watchers of the Monster’. Last year, the newly revamped Loch Ness Centre partnered with Loch Ness Exploration (LNE), an independent and voluntary research team, alongside hundreds of in-person and virtual volunteers to search the famous waters of Loch Ness. This year’s Quest is set to be even bigger and once again calls on modern-day Nessie fans to become the next generation of ‘Watchers of the Monster’.

We have even put out a plea to NASA, the ultimate explorers of new frontiers, to participate in the search and is awaiting a response.

The Quest 2024

This year’s Quest will involve a range of additional activities. Along with a surface watch, guests can enjoy a screening of the new documentary ‘Loch Ness: They Created a Monster’, followed by a Q&A by director John MaClaverty, along with a live debate featuring Alan McKenna from Loch Ness Exploration, renowned Loch Ness writer Roland Watson and Nessie eyewitness Richard White as they recount stories, discuss ongoing research, and dissect eyewitness accounts.

Nessie hunters can also take to the water to search for the creature with their own eyes by joining Alistair Matheson, the Skipper for the Loch Ness Project, on Deepscan as it surveys the loch, utilising a sixty-foot hydrophone to detect unidentified sounds emanating from its depths.

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