by Ria Olivier | Sep 14, 2026 | Announcement, Humanities, Important Dates
The next Standing Committee on Humanities and Social Sciences (SC-HASS) Biennial Conference will be hosted by the Antarctic Legacy of South Africa (ALSA) at Stellenbosch University, from 7–9 September 2027 in Stellenbosch, South Africa.
Bringing Antarctica Closer: Bringing Antarctica Closer invites participants to join us at the southern tip of Africa to explore the relationships that connect Antarctica and the wider Antarctic region to the rest of the world. Rather than viewing Antarctica as remote or isolated, the conference theme emphasises its importance to our shared planetary futures and the vital role of the humanities and social sciences in understanding these connections. Bringing Antarctica Closer speaks both to human engagement in Antarctica and human engagement with Antarctica—bringing the continent more fully into our spheres of knowledge, understanding, care and responsibility.
The theme also invites us to look more closely: to uncover hidden and overlooked histories, recover diverse voices and experiences, develop new theoretical perspectives, and foster interdisciplinary and international research. Speaking to ideas of compassion, community and interconnectedness, the conference will provide a forum for diverse humanities and social sciences scholarship and arts practice that recognises that Antarctica’s future is inseparable from our own.
We welcome abstracts from across the humanities and social sciences that engage with Antarctica, the sub-Antarctic regions, the Southern Ocean and related topics. We particularly encourage interdisciplinary approaches and welcome contributions involving creative and artistic research and practice, as well as relevant projects and collaborations that cross disciplinary boundaries.
Abstract submission deadline: 15 December 2026ontent goes here
CLICK HERE to Submit
Information re registration, conference programme and logistics will later be made available
We look forward to welcoming you to Stellenbosch, South Africa, for SCHASS 2027!
2027 SCAR SC-HASS Biennial Conference Organising Committee
Antarctic Legacy of South Africa (ALSA), Stellenbosch University
Ria Olivier and Dana Jellin
In collaboration with:
Charne Lavery — University of Pretoria
Jean Brundrit — University of Cape Town
Anché Louw — South African Polar Research Infrastructure
Wiida Fourie-Basson — Stellenbosch University
by Ria Olivier | Sep 4, 2026 | Announcement, Marion Island, Overwintering Team
Another chapter in South Africa’s sub-Antarctic presence begins with the Marion 83 Overwintering Team, who will live and work together on Marion Island during 2026 and 2027. The team brings together a diverse range of skills and responsibilities, supporting the continued operation of the research station as well as important environmental monitoring and scientific research on the island. Their work ranges from meteorology, engineering and communications to medical support, conservation and long-term monitoring of Marion Island’s seabirds and seals.
Image caption: Marion 83 Overwintering Team. The team will spend till next year on Marion Island supporting South Africa’s scientific research, environmental monitoring and station operations in the sub-Antarctic. We wish the Marion 83 team a safe, productive and memorable time on Marion Island and look forward to sharing their work and experiences during their overwintering period.
Team members: Londani Rambau – DFFE Senior Environmental CO ; Asive Tyawana – SAPRI Sealer; Sibusisile Kheswa – DFFE Birder and Deputy Team Leader; Yinhla Shihlomule – SAPRI Sealer; Mihle Tshangana – SAWS Assistant Meteorological Technician; Marc Limbert – SAPRI Sealer; Asiphe Tsokotsiyana – SAWS Assistant Meteorological Technician; Mlungisi Mkhwanazi – SAWS Senior Meteorological Technician; Rhiannon Gill – SAPRI Birder; Shani Fourie – SAPRI Birder; Willy Rahophala – DFFE Base Engineer; John Skelete – DFFE Diesel Mechanic; Lola Singo – MFM Mouser; Mbalentle Twetwa – DFFE Communications Engineer; Sandile Nkebe – DFFE Medical Orderly and Team Leader; Mpumelelo Mabutyana = DFFE Field Assistant – Birder; Kamva Nose – DFFE Assistant Environmental CO; Santjie du Toit – MFM Mouser; Tara Naeser – SAPRI Field Assistant – Killer Whaler and Jonathan Campbell – SANSA Electronics Engineer(right not in team picture)
Welcome, Marion 83 – we wish you a successful time on Marion Island!
Blogpost will soon be on Antarctic Legacy of South Africa website featuring departure from CAPE Town harbour.
by Ria Olivier | Sep 4, 2026 | Announcement, Antarctica, Jobs, Overwintering Team
The Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment (DFFE) is inviting suitably qualified candidates to apply for a range of positions at SANAE IV, South Africa’s Antarctic research station. Successful candidates will become part of the overwintering team living and working at SANAE IV in Antarctica for approximately 14 months, from December 2026 to February 2028 as part of the South African National Antarctic Programme (SANAP)
Positions available: Applications are invited for the following positions: (Download advertisements click on position)
These are extraordinary employment opportunities, but working at SANAE IV requires resilience, adaptability and the ability to live and work effectively as part of a small, isolated team. Successful applicants will spend the full deployment period at SANAE IV, with no option to return to South Africa before February 2028. Team members must be physically fit, mentally resilient, self-sufficient and self-motivated. They must be prepared to work in extreme Antarctic conditions and may be required to work long hours or assist with duties outside their normal professional functions when operational circumstances require it. Short-listed candidates will undergo screening and security vetting. Appointment is also subject to a rigorous medical examination and psychometric assessment, arranged at no cost to applicants.
Applications must be submitted online through the DFFE e-Recruitment system.
Closing date: 14 September 2026 at 16:00
No late applications will be accepted. Applicants are strongly encouraged to read the full advertisement for the relevant position before submitting an application and to ensure that they meet all qualification, experience and other requirements. The National Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment is an equal opportunity, affirmative action employer.
Enquiries:
Mr Willem Boshoff (Tel: 021 493 4293) and Mr Rodgerson Hlophe (021 493 7379)
Please note: SANAP shares these opportunities for information. Recruitment and appointments are administered by the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment.
by Ria Olivier | Aug 24, 2026 | Announcement, Gough Island, Overwintering Team
MEDICAL ORDERLY: GOUGH ISLAND
(APPROXIMATELY FIFTEEN MONTHS CONTRACT)
CLOSING DATE: 31 August 2026, 16:00. No late applications will be accepted
The incumbent will be responsible for providing medical treatment to all team members during the expedition and ensure the work is according to the scope of practice regulations. The incumbent will execute duties at a Sub/Antarctic Base and adhere to the health, safety and environmental requirements. The successful applicant will spend a full year (September 2026 to October 2027) at Gough Island. There is no option to return to South Africa before October 2027. The ability to work and live with small groups of people is thus essential.
Advertisement Application Details
APPLICATIONS: Must be submitted to the Director-General, Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the
Environment, The Director: Integrated Human Resource Management, Private Bag X4390, Cape Town, 8000 or hand-deliver to No 63 Strand Street, Cape Town or email to: Recruitmentcoastal@dffe.gov.za
by Ria Olivier | Jul 15, 2026 | Announcement, Research, SANAP
The South African National Antarctic Programme (SANAP) invites applications to an OPEN CALL for a three-year funding cycle (2027-2029). All application materials must be submitted electronically via the NRF’s Submission system at NRFCONNECT. The SANAP call is now open on NRF Connect under the Research Grants category. All applications must be endorsed by the research office of the principal investigator before submission to the NRF. It is the responsibility of each applicant to familiarise himself / herself with the internal closing dates set by their institution to meet the NRF closing date. Incomplete or late submissions will not be considered. All applicants need to consider all three parts of the framework document -the information relating to the research proposals, the frameworks for DFFE, which inter alia details logistic requirements and indicates compulsory attachments, and the SAPRI framework. Which inter alia details infrastructure availability and data storage requirements, included below. Each partner has specific requirements, and the frameworks for SANAP, DFFE and SAPRI need to be considered together. (Information in Framework Document.)
Applicant Closing Date: 03 September 2026
For all NRF RIISA content -related queries:
The National Research Foundation (NRF) recognises that for South Africa to be internationally competitive and to meaningfully contribute to the global economy, the country must have the capability to understand the knowledge produced by others. This understanding can best be developed through performing research. Publicly funded basic and applied research is viewed as a source of new ideas, opportunities, methods, and most importantly, the means through which problem solvers can be trained. The SANAP is a long-term funding instrument designed to ensure the creation of a demographically balanced Antarctic research programme that strives for internationally competitive research, promotes inter-disciplinarity and creates links with other African countries.
The 2016 DSTI Marine and Antarctic Research Strategy serves to link South Africa’s comparative geographic and research advantage, regional stewardship, and national interest considerations to research themes to stimulate systems scale integration of knowledge and understanding. This will not only strengthen South Africa’s profile and develop advanced skills, but in so doing will also support the Country’s geo-political and citizenship goals in both regional and global dialogues. The importance of South Africa’s geographical proximity to Antarctica and its position as a Southern Ocean. South Africa also maintains bases at Marion and Gough Islands, administered by the DFFE. Marion Island and Prince Edward Island together form the Prince Edward Islands Group, annexed by South Africa in 1947. Gough Island is a British protectorate which hosts the South African meteorological station, which operates as part of an agreement between South Africa and the United Kingdom
Another chapter in South Africa’s sub-Antarctic presence begins with the Marion 83 Overwintering Team, who will live and work together on Marion Island during 2026 and 2027. The team brings together a diverse range of skills and responsibilities, supporting the continued operation of the research station as well as important environmental monitoring and scientific research on the island. Their work ranges from meteorology, engineering and communications to medical support, conservation and long-term monitoring of Marion Island’s seabirds and seals.
Image caption: Marion 83 Overwintering Team. The team will spend till next year on Marion Island supporting South Africa’s scientific research, environmental monitoring and station operations in the sub-Antarctic. We wish the Marion 83 team a safe, productive and memorable time on Marion Island and look forward to sharing their work and experiences during their overwintering period.
Team members: Londani Rambau – DFFE Senior Environmental CO ; Asive Tyawana – SAPRI Sealer; Sibusisile Kheswa – DFFE Birder and Deputy Team Leader; Yinhla Shihlomule – SAPRI Sealer; Mihle Tshangana – SAWS Assistant Meteorological Technician; Marc Limbert – SAPRI Sealer; Asiphe Tsokotsiyana – SAWS Assistant Meteorological Technician; Mlungisi Mkhwanazi – SAWS Senior Meteorological Technician; Rhiannon Gill – SAPRI Birder; Shani Fourie – SAPRI Birder; Willy Rahophala – DFFE Base Engineer; John Skelete – DFFE Diesel Mechanic; Lola Singo – MFM Mouser; Mbalentle Twetwa – DFFE Communications Engineer; Sandile Nkebe – DFFE Medical Orderly and Team Leader; Mpumelelo Mabutyana = DFFE Field Assistant – Birder; Kamva Nose – DFFE Assistant Environmental CO; Santjie du Toit – MFM Mouser; Tara Naeser – SAPRI Field Assistant – Killer Whaler and Jonathan Campbell – SANSA Electronics Engineer(right not in team picture)
The incumbent will be responsible for providing medical treatment to all team members during the expedition and ensure the work is according to the scope of practice regulations. The incumbent will execute duties at a Sub/Antarctic Base and adhere to the health, safety and environmental requirements. The successful applicant will spend a full year (September 2026 to October 2027) at Gough Island. There is no option to return to South Africa before October 2027. The ability to work and live with small groups of people is thus essential.
