Bridging Continents: Discussions between AARI, SANAP and SAPRI in Cape Town.
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 SAEON Egagasini Node in Cape Town the event brought together 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 cooperation 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 are 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 presenatations: Dr Sandy Thomalla – SOCCO, Rabia Mathakutha – SAPRI, Ria Olivier- ALSA, Dr Robyn Verrinder-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 present a gift to Prof Juliet Hermes 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.
You are invited to participate in an online mini symposium on Quaternary (including Holocene!) climate and environmental change in the Southern Hemisphere. This is an initiative by the WiSH (Warm Intervals in the Southern Hemisphere) group, an INQUA funded project. Whether your field is in archaeology, palaeontology, mathematics, palaeoclimate… or you are into developing new methods and techniques in modelling, multi-proxy dating etc., we would like to hear from you! 
The aim is to share recent research results and ideas related to Southern Hemisphere climatic and environmental change and variability, in particular during the late Pleistocene and Holocene, and in a range of environmental contexts. We especially encourage postgraduate students to attend and present! We have coordinated meetings for each Southern Hemisphere region, as follows, depending on where you work (not where you are based):
Invitation to the third lecture in our 2024 Lecture Series. In this session, we will explore the development and communication of your personal brand, highlighting its critical importance for postgraduate students entering the competitive job market (more details below). The lecture will take place via Zoom (please note that the session will be recorded) and anyone interested in attending should please register via the link below. Date: Thursday, 17 October 2024 Time: Starts at 15:00 (GMT+2) Title: Personal Branding & CV Fundamentals Speaker: Annabel Eggeling (Leading Trends in People Management – Wits Business School 2010) Zoom registration link: 
Description: This presentation explores the development and communication of your personal brand, emphasizing its critical importance for postgraduate students entering the competitive job market. In an era where AI and matching algorithms now play a pivotal role in CV selection, it’s essential to master the art of crafting a CV that makes it to the “short-list”. We will discuss strategies for optimizing your CV to stand out in Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS), including best practices for format and content. This session will also serve as a foundation for preparing for interviews, ensuring you are well-equipped to showcase your skills and experience effectively.
South Africa has long had an 
The project works together with scientific research but is focused on approaching the relationship between Africa and Antarctica from a different lens: creative, critical, historical, futurist; focused on questions of aesthetics, ethics, value, storytelling; and with the explicit intention to transform Antarctic participation in relation to race, class and gender.
