Partners & Allies
The scale and complexity of investigating one of the world’s largest karst groundwater systems requires interdisciplinary collaboration, international expertise, and long-term commitment.
Private Philanthropic Initiatives
Philanthropic initiatives enable long-term scientific research and environmental discovery.
Rolex Perpetual Planet Initiative
The Rolex Perpetual Planet Initiative supports long-term scientific research that advances understanding and protection of the Earth’s natural systems, particularly in areas such as climate, water, and biodiversity. Our project is supported within this framework, enabling the systematic investigation of one of the world’s largest karst groundwater systems and helping build a scientific foundation for its long-term protection.
The Rolex Perpetual Planet Initiative supports long-term scientific research that advances understanding and protection of the Earth’s natural systems, particularly in areas such as climate, water, and biodiversity. Our project is supported within this framework, enabling the systematic investigation of one of the world’s largest karst groundwater systems and helping build a scientific foundation for its long-term protection.
Aquifer & Reef Foundation (A&RF)
The Aquifer & Reef Foundation supports projects that investigate regions where karst landscapes, aquifers, and marine ecosystems intersect. Its mission focuses on advancing scientific understanding and promoting the protection of groundwater systems, coastal regions, and the world’s oceans as interconnected natural systems.
Within this project, the Foundation supports research on the functional relationships between groundwater flow and marine ecosystems. By encouraging system-based analysis and exploration, it contributes to developing long-term protection strategies for aquifers and the coastal environments that depend on them, reinforcing the importance of safeguarding this critical hydrological connection.
CHALK Outdoor
CHALK Outdoor is a premium outdoor gear company that develops its own products while also curating high-end equipment from other brands. The company is known for its rigorous field-testing process, in which products are tested for years in extreme environments before being released. Their product range includes technical items such as waterproof backpacks, modular storage systems, and weather-protective clothing. Field testing takes place worldwide—from the North Pole to the South Pole—ensuring real expedition-level reliability. Overall, CHALK positions itself as a performance-driven brand focused on durability, innovation, and real-world exploration.
Academic & Research Partners
Universities and research laboratories provide scientific expertise and analytical capacity for the investigation of complex groundwater systems.
Friedrich Schiller University Jena
Friedrich Schiller University Jena is one of Germany’s most established research universities, with recognized expertise in hydrogeology and critical zone science.
Within the project, the university contributes particularly in the field of water analysis, including hydrochemical evaluation, interpretation of physico-chemical parameters, and scientific contextualization of collected samples within regional and system-wide frameworks. Their collaboration strengthens the analytical and conceptual foundation of the research.
GeoSphere Austria
GeoSphere Austria is Austria’s national geoscientific research institution and internationally recognized for its expertise in airborne geophysics.
Within the project, GeoSphere Austria leads the airborne research component, including aero-electromagnetic investigations, geophysical data processing, and subsurface structural modeling. With extensive experience in karst and coastal environments, the institution ensures the highest scientific and technical standards in large-scale subsurface analysis.
Cave Research Foundation (CRF)
The Cave Research Foundation is an international network of scientists and cave explorers dedicated to the exploration, documentation, and mapping of complex cave systems.
In this project, CRF contributes in the field of speleology, particularly in the exploration, structural documentation, and cartography of dry cave systems, supporting the interpretation of karst development and subsurface morphology.
Czech Speleological Society (ČSS)
The Czech Speleological Society is one of Europe’s long-established speleological organizations, uniting research groups dedicated to cave exploration, mapping, and scientific analysis of karst systems.
Within the project, the ČSS supports systematic speleological exploration and cartography, contributing expertise in the structural assessment and documentation of dry cave systems and karst features.
Crawford Hydrology Lab – Western Kentucky University (CHL)
The Crawford Hydrology Lab at Western Kentucky University specializes in field-based hydrological research in karst systems.
Within the project, its focus lies on dye tracing techniques and advanced water analyses to determine flow paths, hydraulic connectivity, and subsurface dynamics. These investigations provide quantitative validation of modeled groundwater movement.
Governmental & Institutional Partners
Governmental institutions provide regulatory oversight, environmental stewardship, and institutional coordination that ensure scientific exploration aligns with national conservation priorities and cultural preservation.
CONANP – National Commission of Natural Protected Areas (Mexico)
CONANP manages Mexico’s federally protected natural areas, including key ecosystems across the Yucatán Peninsula. Collaboration ensures alignment with conservation objectives and supports integration of scientific findings into protected area management strategies.
INAH – National Institute of Anthropology and History (Mexico)
INAH is responsible for safeguarding Mexico’s archaeological and cultural heritage. As many cenotes and cave systems hold archaeological significance, collaboration ensures that scientific exploration is conducted responsibly and in accordance with cultural preservation standards.
German Honorary Consulate – Cancún
The German Honorary Consulate in Cancún supports German–Mexican institutional collaboration and facilitates international scientific cooperation. Its engagement strengthens bilateral coordination and promotes structured academic exchange.
Regional Conservation & Scientific Organizations
Regional conservation organizations play a vital role in connecting scientific research with community engagement, environmental protection, and long-term stewardship of groundwater-dependent ecosystems.
Amigos de Sian Ka’an A.C.
A leading Mexican conservation organization dedicated to protecting the Sian Ka’an Biosphere Reserve. Their work connects scientific research with community-based conservation in coastal and groundwater-dependent ecosystems.
Centinelas del Agua A.C.
A civil society organization committed to water protection, sustainable resource management, and public awareness. Their involvement strengthens the bridge between scientific insight and societal engagement.
Karst Lab A.C.
A nonprofit organization focused on karst research, monitoring, and education. Karst Lab contributes regional expertise in surface–subsurface interactions and karst feature documentation.
A Shared Commitment
Together, these partners represent:
technical expertise
institutional responsibility
Regional engagement
Long-term environmental commitment
Through this collaborative framework, the project becomes more than a research initiative — it establishes a coordinated foundation for understanding, protecting, and responsibly managing one of the world’s most significant freshwater systems.