Antarctica, a pristine and remote frontier of scientific discovery, has long been a region of international interest for climate research, biodiversity, and understanding global environmental changes. In a recent meeting, held at the NRF-SAEON Egagasini Node in Cape Town brought together the South African National Antarctic Programme (SANAP) researchers, and South African Polar Research Infrastructure (SAPRI) personnel to discuss how we can collaborate with the Arctic and Antarctic Research Institute (AARI) to share resources, infrastructures and expertise to protect and study this unique region.
Attending in Person, Prof Juliet Hermes, Prof Marcello Vichi, Dr Anne Treasure, Ria Olivier, Dr Robyn Verrinder, Thomas Mtontsi, Steve Tebele, Jonathan Ward, Mark McKechnie, Rabia Mathakutha, Dr Sandy Thomalla, Dr Alexander Makarov, Dr Maxim Tatarkin.
The meeting was focused on several aspects, including enhancing scientific cooperations in the Antarctic, and exploring ways to share logistical and research capacities. Both SANAP and AARI have a long history of involvement in Antarctic studies, and these discussions is a step forward in research and innovation collaboration.
The meeting was in hybrid format and was attended online by Dr Michael Kosch, Dr David Hedding, Dr Geoff Grantham and Yinhla Shihlomule.
Dr Makarov introduced the activities, research and infrastructure of the AARI. He provided context to the visit and introduced AARI science and collaboration strategy. Highlights were the major directions of AARI which include Meteorology, Glaciology, Sea-ice research, Ice Physics, Ocean-atmosphere interaction, Polar Geography, Geophysics, Oceanography, interaction of ship hull with sea-ice, multi-year permafrost, hydrochemistry and hydrology of estuaries and water resources
Short presentations by the South African delegation with discussions followed (Presentations available on ALSA archive)
The in-person presenters that started the South African Discussions and presentations: Dr Sandy Thomalla – SOCCO, Rabia Mathakutha – SAPRI, Ria Olivier- ALSA, Dr Robyn Verrinder-UCT-MARiS
The following presentations were done:
- SOCCO: South Africa’s ocean-climate science and innovation programme:
Taking ocean climate science to society. Sandy Thomalla. - The South African Polar Research Infrastructure. Rabia Mathakutha
- An Overview of the Antarctic Legacy of South Africa Ria Olivier
- Antarctic MIZ Observations: Interdisciplinary approaches to resolve seasonal sea-ice variability. Robyn Verrinder
- Geology of Western Dronning Maud Land, Antarctica – a brief history of Geological Evolution insights. Geoffrey Grantham
- SANAP Geological Research program 2024-2026 in western Dronning Maud Land, Antarctica. Geoffrey Grantham
- Landscape and climate interactions in the sub-Antarctic. David Hedding
- SuperDARN HF radar at SANAE, Instrument infrastructure for space weather research. Michael Kosch
- SANSA – Jonathan Ward
- BRICS-RELAY and Antarctica InSync. Marcello Vichi
Through collaboration, we are expanding our ability to understand and protect one of the planet’s most critical ecosystems as Antarctica holds answers to some of the world’s biggest environmental questions, and through collaboration, we can unlock those answers.
Dr. Makarov presents Prof. Juliet Hermes with a gift of the ice-resistant platform ‘North Pole’.
The discussion between AARI and SANAP and SAPRI signals a collaboration for Antarctic research, through shared resources, expertise, and data, both nations are poised to make significant contributions to global climate science. As the world watches the impacts of climate change unfold, this international collaboration offers hope for a deeper understanding of our planet and the preservation of its most fragile regions.
This post was originally published on the South African National Antarctic Programme (SANAP) website (administered by the Antarctic Legacy of South Africa (ALSA)), by Mrs Ria Olivier, Principal Investigator of the ALSA project (link).
