The NRF-SANAP Funding call is now open!
Click on the link below to access the submission portal.
Have you registered on NRF Connect?
Submission deadline: 15 June 2023
Important Documents – as indicated on the NRF website
(Please click on the images below to open the various documents)
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Anche Louw, South African Polar Research Infrastructure (SAPRI DPS Node), 20 April 2023
The 62nd South African National Antarctic Expedition (SANAE) team left Cape Town in middle December 2022 and will return to Cape Town in February 2024. This team will maintain the SANAE IV base for the year, collect meteorological data (under the South African Weather Service) and work on various space science and engineering projects (under the South African National Space Agency).
The SANAE62 team has released their first newsletter for the year. Each of the 9 team members introduce themselves in this first edition.
The team decided to call their newsletter The Nunatak, find out why in the newsletter.
The SANAE62 newsletters published throughout this coming year will give “a glimpse into the life of an overwintering expeditioner at the South African National Antarctic Expedition research base” – DJ van Wyk (South African National Space Agency Engineer, S62 deputy team leader and editor of the S62 newsletter).
DJ has also started his own blog – read more about his time as an expeditioner here.
DJ van Wyk shares his first aurora experience. Click on the image to visit his profile on Instagram.
Anche Louw, South African Polar Research Infrastructure, Data Products and Society Node, 30 March 2023
CLOSING date 14 APRIL 2023.
South Africa’s Class Afloat aims to introduce marine science as an applied and cross-disciplinary field to students who have shown an affinity for core science disciplines
SEAmester V 2022 (read more about SEAmester cruises)
Applications are now open for LECTURER and STUDENT participation on the 2023 SEAmester-South Africa’ Class Afloat Programme. CLICK HERE
The Department of Science and Innovation requires platforms to “attract young researchers to the region and retain them by exciting their interest in aspects of global change”. SEAmester introduces marine science as an applied and cross-disciplinary field to students. Its long‐term vision is aimed at building capacity within the marine sciences by co‐ordinating cross‐disciplinary research projects through a highly innovative programme. The strength of SEAmester is that postgraduate students combine theoretical classroom learning with the application of this knowledge through ship-based and hands-on research. The state‐of‐the‐art research vessel, S.A. Agulhas II, provides the ideal teaching and research platform for SEAmester; its size, comfort and shipboard facilities allow large groups of students and lecturers to productively interact over a period of 10 days.
SEAmester will depart on the 19th June returning to Cape Town on the 30th June 2023. PLEASE NOTE: Applicants to be aware that the cruise dates may be subject to change by a few days. For further information please refer to www.SEAmester.co.za
DEADLINE FOR APPLICATIONS : 14 APRIL 2023
The Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment (DFFE) is looking for suitable candidates to join the 2023/2024 Gough Island team.
The team will depart (on the research and supply vessel, S.A. Agulhas II) to Gough Island in September 2023 and return in October 2024.
Positions to be filled:
APPLICATION DEADLINE: 20 March 2023
Click on the link below to view the positions to be filled.
SANAP JOBS Read more about Gough Island!
Anche Louw, South African Polar Research Infrastructure (SAPRI), 09 March 2023
Click here to download/view the newsletter!
Birthdays celebrated by G68 so far:
Anche Louw, South African Polar Research Infrastructure (Data, Products & Society Node), 27 February 2023.
The AMT (Atlantic Meridional Transect) cruises are a series of research voyages conducted annually across the Atlantic Ocean, from the UK to the Caribbean, to study the ocean’s biogeochemistry, ecology, and physical properties. The cruises are multidisciplinary and include scientists from around the world. As part of the cruise, samples are collected at multiple depths and locations along the transect (read more about AMT here and here).
SANAP Project Involved: Enhanced insights regarding the ecology, evolution and function of marine microbiomes
Project Principal Investigator: Prof Thulani P. Makhalanyane
The South African Research Chairs Initiative (SARChI) Chair in Marine Microbiomics has a SANAP funded project focused on understanding microbiomes in the Southern Ocean and South Atlantic. The project titled “Enhanced insights regarding the ecology, evolution and function of marine microbiomes.” As part of this project, we have initiated a series of collaborative activities to access and join international cruises through the EU funded AtlantECO program.
Mayibongwe Butlelezi, a NRF/SANAP funded PhD student from the University of Pretoria, was selected to join this 6-week cruise aboard the Discovery. AMT30 has departed from the Falkland Islands on 21 February 2023. As far as we know, Mayi is the sole South African representee on the cruise. His project is focused on understanding the role played by marine microorganisms in the sulphur cycle. Specifically, Mayi will collect samples using protocols developed as part of the AtlantECO project to study microbiomes along the water column and to specifically quantify DMSP (Dimethylsulfoniopropionate).
Follow the work of Prof Makhalanyane and his team on Twitter:
What’s happening on social media:
We have mail! Group member @ButheleziMaybo sent some photos from the Falkland Islands where he’s about to join the AMT-30 cruise. #penguins #AMT30 @EU_AtlantECO @NRF_News @Antarcticlegacy @Thuls_M pic.twitter.com/ytNRdBUFoe
— Microbial Ecology (@microbiomeSU) February 19, 2023
We are delighted to say #AMT30 has departed to embark upon a 6 week expedition sampling the South and North Atlantic Oceans. This will provide a continuation of AMT measurements since 1995 to enable decadal scale ecosystem changes to be detected. #DY157 https://t.co/2ZNv2UyCbe pic.twitter.com/fShDHb2rLu
— AMT4CO2Flux (@AMT4CO2Flux) February 21, 2023
Text: Prof Thulani P. Makhalanyane, Department of Biochemistry, Genetics and Microbiology, University of Pretoria.
Images: amt-uk.org, @Thuls_M and @microbiomeUP
Edited: Anche Louw, South African Polar Research Infrastructure (Data, Products & Society Node), 24 February 2023.
East Pier Shed, East Pier Lane,
V&A Waterfront, Cape Town,
South Africa
