In order to further his research, he participated in several expeditions in Himalaya (Broad Peak and North of Mount Everest), Greenland and Patagonia.

[1] He is well known for his expeditions in the Arctic and Antarctica, with scientific as well as pedagogical goals, which attracted media coverage, disseminating knowledge and research, and promoting protection of the environment.

He became famous with the feat of the 1990 International Trans-Antarctica Expedition, a 6,300 km crossing on foot, with dogs, of the Austral continent.

In 2007 and 2008, Jean-Louis Étienne was the general director of the Institut océanographique de Paris and the Oceanographic Museum of Monaco.

[1] He received the gold medal from the Société de géographie[1] and is a member of the French Academy of Technologies.