by Ria Olivier | Jun 27, 2022 | Announcement, Current Event, News, Research, SA Agulhas II, SANAP, Science, SEAmester, Southern Ocean
The S.A. Agulhas II is getting ready for departure on the 5th SEAmester cruise. The expected time of departure is today, 27 July 2022.
37 students from 14 national higher education institutions and 1 international institution, were selected for SA’s class afloat which is an 11-day marine science winter school onboard the S.A. Agulhas II. The cruise will take part along the South African coast and across the Agulhas current to the sub-Antarctic Prince Edward Islands. Students will be exposed to hands-on ship-based deck activities, as well as traditional classroom lectures.
Places of origin – 31 of the 37 students indicated where they originally come from.
Read more about SEAmester
Meet the 37 students that were selected for this cruise:
* Note that only students presenting a negative Covid-19 PCR test will be permitted to board the vessel.
by Ria Olivier | Jun 3, 2022 | Announcement, Research, SA Agulhas II, SA Polar Research Infrastructure, SANAP, SAPolarRI, Science, Southern Ocean, STEM
The South African Polar Research Infrastructure has been recently established through funding from the Department of Science and Innovation (DSI). SAPRI is a consortium of institutions led by the South African Environmental Observation Network (SAEON) that enables scientific research in polar sciences. Among the various aims, it will promote and support participation in the South African National Antarctic Program (SANAP) by institutions that have not been historically involved in polar sciences.
As part of this transformation program, SAPRI will support the participation of 10 early career researchers to an upcoming research cruise on the S.A. Agulhas II departing on the 11th of July 2022. The scientific program will cover a variety of polar disciplines, from open ocean sampling to sea ice measurements. The projects are currently part of the SANAP and other NRF-funded projects with topics in the Southern Ocean and are led by internationally renowned scientists, with the participation of international teams.
The “SAPRI trainees” can be either early career researchers with an interest to grow their career in the polar sciences or more established researchers that would like to broaden their horizons. It is aimed at people who are early career (post-MSc) or established scientists and technicians who will remain in the system either through a Postdoc or being employed. They will participate in seminars on board the ship and will be exposed to the science done by the various projects, with direct hands-on experience through job shadowing and direct sampling. This is an opportunity to expand your current research topics and to build a network that would be helpful for your own projects. The group of SAPRI trainees will eventually become leaders of individual projects in their own universities.
This is a last-minute call specifically addressed to institutions and topics that have not been traditionally part of the SANAP. This includes aspects of social and economical sciences that are relevant to the polar sciences. As such, we require a prompt response from researchers and postgraduate students (MSc, MPhil, PhD). Participants will need a valid passport and be ready to go through a quarantine period of 7 days prior to departure.
Chief Scientist: A/Prof Marcello Vichi (MARiS)
KEY DATES:
8 June 2022: Applications Close
5 July 2022: Quarantine in dedicated hotel
11 July 2022: Departure at East Pier, Victoria and Alfred Waterfront, Cape Town Harbour.
31 July 2022: Arrival at East Pier, Victoria and Alfred Waterfront, Cape Town Harbour
COSTS: The SAPRI will cover the costs for transportation, quarantine stay and medicals. Ship costs will be covered by the NRF.
Expression of Interest: Click here!
To view the SCALE Crusie Report of 2019:
Click here!
DEADLINE: 08 June 2022
by Ria Olivier | May 18, 2022 | Announcement, Discover, Gateway cities, International Days, Prince Edward Island, Prince Edward Islands, Research, SA Agulhas II, SANAE, SANAP, Science, Southern Ocean, Stations, sub-Antarctic
Free entrance to Iziko Museums of South Africa today, 18 May 2022.
Visit the Sentinels of the South Exhibition at Iziko Museum of South Africa, Cape Town.
This exhibition will give you insight into the history, discoveries, and current role of South Africa’s Antarctic and Southern Ocean exploration. Read more here.
Anche Louw, Antarctic Legacy of South Africa, 18 May 2022
by Ria Olivier | May 11, 2022 | Announcement, Antarctica, Engineering, Environment, News, Research, SA Agulhas II, SANAP, Southern Ocean
Her lecture title is: What can we learn from the way a ship shudders on an icy wreck hunt.
For more info and a link to the LIVE event, click
here.
S.A. Agulhas II Image Credit: Ken Findlay.
Anche Louw, Antarctic Legacy of South Africa, 11 May 2022
by Ria Olivier | Apr 21, 2022 | Current Event, Marion Island, News, Overwintering Team, Prince Edward Islands, Research, SA Agulhas II, SANAP, Science, Southern Ocean, Stations, sub-Antarctic, Take-Over Operations
The S.A. Agulhas II departed from East Pier, V&A Waterfront on her annual Marion Island relief voyage, Sunday 17 April 2022. The expected time of arrival at the island is today, 21 April 2022.
The first leg of the voyage, Oceanographic Leg 1, from Cape Town to Marion Island, was dedicated to underway sampling (the vessel did not stop for sampling to take place).
Once at the island, take-over operations will commence immediately (weather permitting) – all land-based scientists, National Department of Public Works (NDPW) personnel, and take-over personnel (DFFE) will disembark. Cargo will be slung with helicopters to the island and fuel will be pumped to the island. Hereafter, the vessel will depart from Marion Island on the 2nd Oceanographic leg (annual Research and Monitoring programme around the Prince Edward Islands). The 3rd Oceanographic leg will commence after take-over, on the way back to Cape Town.
What is planned for the 2022 take-over on Marion Island (land-based)
- base and hut maintenance (NDPW)
- base and hut restock
- take-over function
- 79th Marion Island overwintering team (meet the team in next article) to take over from 78th Marion Island overwintering team (M78 – click here).
- take-over projects – scientific fieldwork (see table below)
University of Fort Hare, Department of Geography
Landscape and climate Interactions In a changing sub-Antarctic Environment🔗 |
| Group Leader | Prof Werner Nel |
DFFE: Oceans and Coasts
Southern Ocean and Island Research Programme
|
| Group Leader | Dr Azwianewi Makhado |
BirdLife South Africa & University of Pretoria
Department of Plant and Soil Sciences🔗
Longitudinal monitoring of terrestrial diversity to assess the effects of mouse eradiction on Marion Island, and bait and mouse trials to inform further planning for the project |
| Group Leader | Mr Luis Alberto Rodriguez-Pertierra |
BirdLife South Africa, DFFE
Mouse-Free Marion (Project to Eradicate House Mica from Marlon Island)🔗 |
| Group Leader | Dr Anton Wolfaardt |
South African National Space Agency (SANSA)
Polar Space Weather Studies🔗 |
| Group Leader | Mr Matthew Spoor |
South African Weather Service (SAWS)
Atmosphere and Ocean Surface Research🔗 |
| Group Leader | Mr Vuyo Xelithole |
University of KwaZulu-Natal, School of Mathematics, Statistics and Computer Science
Observing Dawn In the Cosmos🔗 |
| Group Leader | Mr Ronny Joseph |
University of Pretoria, Mammal Research Unit, Department of Zoology & Entomology
Marion Island Marine Mammal Programme (MIMMP)🔗
Marion Island Marine Mammals in Changing Environments: lndividual Heterogeneity and Population Processes |
| Group Leader | Prof Nico de Bruyn
|
Nelson Mandela University, Department of Zoology
Marine Apex Predator Research Unit (MAPRU)🔗
Avian scavengers as indicators of recovery of an island biota |
| Group Leader | Dr Maëlle Connan |
What is planned for the take-over onboard the S.A. Agulhas II (ship-based)
DFFE: Ocean & Coasts Research
DFFE Ship-based Southern Ocean and Islands Research Programme |
| Ocean Physics: Group Leader | Mr Gavin Tutt |
| Ocean Chemistry: Group Leader | Dr Thato Mtshali |
| Ocean Biological: Group Leader | Mr Henry Kakora |
DFFE:Ocean & Coasts, University of Cape Town, Bayworld Centre for Research & Education
SAMOC-SA |
| Group Leader | Mr. Grant van der Heever |
University of Pretoria
Enhanced insights regarding the ecology, evolution, and function of marine microbiomes |
| Group Leader | Mr Choaro Dithugoe |
Land-based DFFE and other take-over personnel
Department of Forestry Fisheries and the Environment (DFFE)
Directorate: Southern Oceans & Antarctic Support
Management, logistics and support for this voyage |
| Departmental Co-ordinator (DCO) | Mr Errol Julies |
| Assistant DCO | Mr Mfundo Tima |
| Admin Officer | Ms Pozisa Matshoba |
| General/Waste Technician | Mr Sabata Setona |
| General/Waste Technician | Mr Mazizi Salmani |
DFFE
Directorate: Oceans, Coasts & Biosecurity Compliance |
| Environmental Control Officer | Mr Thomas Mufanadzo |
DFFE
Directorate: Earth Systems Strategies
Prince Edward Islands Management Authority (Oversight Management Functions) |
| Group Leader | Ms Ntombovuyo Madlokazi |
| Chief Scientists |
| Land-based | Prof Werner Nel |
| Ship-based | Mr Marcel van den Berg |
National Department of Public Works (NDPW)
Maintenance Support |
| Group Leader | Mr Takalani Mudau |
Featured Image: S.A. Agulhas II at Marion Island, May 2014 (Credit: Anche Louw).
Anche Louw, Antarctic Legacy of South Africa, 21 April 2022
by Ria Olivier | Apr 7, 2022 | Antarctica, Meetings, News, Research, SA Agulhas II, SA Polar Research Infrastructure, SAPolarRI, Southern Ocean, sub-Antarctic
The first face-to-face SAPRI Science Engagement planning meeting was organised and hosted by the South African Environment Observation Network (SAEON) Science Engagement team.
The workshop was held on the 5th of April 2022, in Gauteng, South Africa.
The program started with an introduction and an overview of SAPRI by Dr Tamaryn Morris, the co-champion of SAPRI. Ria Olivier introduced the Antarctic Legacy of South Africa (ALSA) to the delegates and the role ALSA plays within the South African National Antarctic Programme (SANAP) and its future role within the SAPRI DPS (Data, Products and Societal benefits). The SAEON Science Coordinator, Kogie Govender, introduced environmental science education/outreach focus areas of SAEON and how SAEON’s efforts will be of advantage and incorporated into the SAPRI Science Engagement efforts.
A presentation on web development was delivered by Zack Smith (SAEON), to get some ideas going for the SAPRI website. Thomas Mtontsi (Environmental Science Education Officer, SAEON) gave an overview of the Draft SAPRI Science Engagement Policy. This policy is a work in progress and two valuable workshop activities, hosted by Kogie Govender, were indicative of new ideas and audiences that need to be incorporated into this policy.
The next meeting will be virtual and the SAPRI Science Engagement Policy will be a joint effort between ALSA, SAEON, and APECS-SA (Association for Polar Early Career Scientists – South Africa).
Featured image (L-R) Back: Joe Sibiya (SAEON), Dr Christel Hansen (APECS-SA), Ria Olivier (ALSA), Tahlia Henry (ALSA), Caitlin Ransom (SAEON); (Front) Thomas Mtontsi (SAEON), Dr Tamaryn Morris (Co-champion SAPRI), Kogie Govender (SAEON), Anche Louw (ALSA), Nozi Hambaze (SAEON) and Dr Liezel Rudolph (APECS-SA).
