Message from DDG Judy Beaumont to Marion 77 Overwintering Team: “I want to send a special farewell to the five amazing Marian 77 expedition members who for the first time in the history of the program are experiencing a different, unexpected and never been done before kind of voyage. I’m equally grateful to your family, friends, and loved ones for allowing you to serve the nation even during these trying times in absentia. ….convey my heartfelt gratitude to the Marion 76 those returning and also those that heed the call to remain behind, their sacrifice, generosity and display of the love they have for the program is visible to all”
The S.A. Agulhas II with Captain Knowledge Bengu, his crew and voyage particpants left Cape Town Harbour just after 14h00 on Tuesday 21 April 2020 for Marion Island.
Communication Engineer: Aphiwe Dyum (M76)Diesel Mechanic: Alain Jacobs (M76)Medical Orderly: Winnie Moodaley (M76)Base Engineer: Patrick HlongwaneSenior Meteorologist: Nkoane MathabataAssistant Meteorologist: Khulisa MaphahaAssistant Meteorologist: Philani NgcoboSANSA Engineer: Stephanus Schoeman
As a result of the streamlining, the NRF will publish the One Call for Applications for funding in February
2020 (Review Period 1) and others later in Review Period 2 under the following categories. Refer to
Appendix 1 for the Review Periods – The NRF General Application Guide (Ver 5 April 21)
Cut-off dates and Review Periods:
The NRF will accept applications for processing on the cut-off dates for the different Review Periods as
indicated in Appendix 1. No applications submitted by institutions to the NRF after that date will be considered. Applicants should therefore ensure that the institutional deadlines be strictly followed.
SA National Antarctic Programme (SANAP) Cut of date extended to 15 May 2020
Antarctica and the surrounding Southern Ocean are remote and endure a particularly harsh environment, being the coldest, windiest and driest place on Earth. The position the region is also globally unique because of an uninterrupted circumpolar circulation, which not only regulates global and regional climate through heat, moisture and CO2 exchange, but also ocean productivity through its supply of nutrients. The long-term accumulation of ice in Antarctica provides a record that retains a signal of past global changes and through them, clues to future dynamics. The Antarctic and Southern Ocean are critical where international scientific investigation is inextricably linked to our understanding of the fundamental drivers of the entire Earth system. Antarctica and Southern Ocean Research Plan
South Africa is the only African nation with a foothold in Antarctica and the Southern Ocean. It therefore bears a regional responsibility and serves as a channel for broader African scientific research interests in the Antarctic region.
Marion 77 will depart today from East Pier to Marion Island. In a press release Minister Creecy (see below) stated that :” As a result of the lockdown and as per announcement of the President, the voyage planning and arrangements have to be reconfigured to minimise risks;
We have taken decisions which we believe are in the best interest of existing participants and the overwintering team which we need to return from Marion Island to South Africa;
To this end, the Department together with key partners and specialist advisors have decided that the voyage will proceed but with a significantly reduced vessel crew and expedition complement;
The expedition will include an essential support team for logistics, maintenance and overwintering. There will be no field science activities during the relief and overwintering periods;”
As the team members is in isolation a photo of team members will be post as soon as possible
Listen to DDG Judy Beaumont speech to Marion Island Voyage Participants, wishing them all the best for this historic trip during COVID 19 pandemic. Letter to participants available on digital repository.
CAREER OPPORTUNITY – Post Doctoral Fellowships. The Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) is a leading scientific and technology research organisation that researches, develops, localises and diffuses technologies to accelerate socio-economic prosperity in South Africa. The organisation’s work contributes to industrial development and supports a capable state.
The CSIR has three opportunities for Post-Doctoral Fellowships in the Southern Ocean Carbon and Climate Observatory programme (SOCCO), within the Smart Places cluster, and hosted at the Marine Institute (Ma-Re), UCT. The purpose of the fellowships is to conduct research in line with three H2020 projects in which SOCCO is a partner. The positions are offered as a two-year contract with the possibility of extension for a third year. These opportunities are based in Rosebank, Cape Town. For more information about the programme and cluster please visit http://www.socco.org.za and http://www.csir.co.za/smart-places respectively.
Southern Ocean CO2 and heat uptake: the future role of the Southern Ocean ininfluencing the rates of global warming depends critically on the sensitivity of its uptake and storage of heat and anthropogenic CO This sensitivity is thought to be largely dependent on the response in the physics of the mixed layer and sea ice system to climate change. This fellowship aims to use air-sea CO2 reconstructions, high resolution models as well as Earth System Models (ESM) to examine the climate sensitivity of the mechanisms that explain CO2 and heat ocean-atmosphere fluxes in the Southern Ocean.
Southern Ocean emerging feedbacks in carbon cycle: the sensitivity of coupled ocean- atmosphere physical and ocean biogeochemical mechanisms to climate forcing can lead to regional non-linear responses that lead to changing feedbacks, thresholds of abrupt change and tipping pointes. This fellowship aims to use the South African ESM combination with other CMIP6 models to examine how non-linearities in the carbon cycle can be linked to specific physical and biogeochemical mechanisms, their scales and dynamics in the Southern
Southern Ocean Biogeochemical model development: the sensitivity of the ocean biological carbon pump to climate forcing is critical to project changing carbon feedbacks in the second half of the 21st century, particularly in the Southern Ocean. For this fellowship the successful candidate will be a biogeochemical modeller, who will be responsible for model development through improved parameterisations of physiological processes for phytoplankton in coupled biogeochemical-physical models. This will be done based on experience in parameterisations for functional responses to multiple Observational data will be collected under varying conditions that will be used to derive and implement new relationships into numerical models.
Key responsibilities:
Initiate further independent research within the strategic objectives of the current programme;
Assist with Master’s and Doctoral supervision of students in support of the SOCCO/UCT- Ma-Re human capital development mission;
Lead, assist and supervise field data collection and model development;
Contribute to the writing of numerous reviewed journal publications, and be the lead author of at least
Qualifications, skills and experience:
A Doctoral degree in Ocean CO2 or biogeochemical modelling and/or observations, withexperience in modelling;
Experience in acquiring and processing large global data sets as well as running and analysing model outputs;
Proficiency in Python
Closing date: 15 May 2020
PLEASE NOTE THAT FEEDBACK WILL BE GIVEN TO SHORTLISTED CANDIDATES ONLY.
For more info, please contact the CSIR Recruitment Centre on 012 841 4774 or email us at Recruitmentinfo@csir.co.za
The CSIR is an equal opportunity employer. As such, it is committed to the Employment Equity Act of 1998. By applying for this position at the CSIR, the applicant understands, consents and agrees that the CSIR may solicit a credit and criminal report from a registered credit bureau and/or SAPS (in relation to positions that require trust and honesty and/or entail the handling of cash or finances) and may also verify the applicant’s educational qualifications and employment history. The CSIR reserves the right to remove the advertisement at any time before the stated closing date and it further reserves the right not to appoint if a suitable candidate is not identified.
PLEASE NOTE THAT FEEDBACK WILL BE GIVEN TO SHORTLISTED CANDIDATES ONLY.
For more info, please contact the CSIR Recruitment Centre on 012 841 4774 or email us at Recruitmentinfo@csir.co.za
The CSIR is an equal opportunity employer. As such, it is committed to the Employment Equity Act of 1998. By applying for this position at the CSIR, the applicant understands, consents and agrees that the CSIR may solicit a credit and criminal report from a registered credit bureau and/or SAPS (in relation to positions that require trust and honesty and/or entail the handling of cash or finances) and may also verify the applicant’s educational qualifications and employment history. The CSIR reserves the right to remove the advertisement at any time before the stated closing date and it further reserves the right not to appoint if a suitable candidate is not identified.
Jess Verheul grew up in Johannesburg, South Africa and has always had an affinity for the outdoors, wild and remote places, exploring, surviving and adventuring. She believes she might have been inspired and influenced by her grandparents being farmers; “we spent much time playing outside growing up. I loved being on the farm, and my parents took us on some great safari holidays when we were younger too”. She graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree, specialising in Geography and Environmental Management. In her third year (2009), her mom showed her an article in an old girls school newsletter, an article by a fellow former school girl, who had been in Antarctica as the overwintering Medical Doctor. This sparked a conversation which in turn started a personal obsession…Mission Antarctica, by any means necessary. Her sense of adventure and the will to explore, or a search for depth and resilience to struggle and experience the elements for one’s-self sparked this obsession.
Jess completed her Master’s Degree in Environmental Management in 2012 and started working in the corporate consulting world. She relocated to Cape Town in 2014 and got involved as a volunteer firefighter and started experimenting more with creative hobbies like drawing and painting. In 2018 she was offered a volunteer position for the summer takeover to SANAE IV, South Africa’s Antarctic station located on the Vesleskarvet nunatak in Dronning Maud Land. She joined the South African National Space Agency (SANSA) team as a volunteer for the summer takeover expedition. As a member of a team of 10 people for SANSA undertaking upgrades and maintenance at SANAE IV over the summer takeover period from December 2018 to March 2019.
“Lacking a good camera but having a desire to experience this incredible place to the fullest, and knowing that drawing is a fantastic meditation; I treated myself to a blank sketchbook and some fine-liner pens before departing on our journey. I like creative expression. It helps me clear my head and experience a place or a situation more deeply.”
The SANSA Team didn’t have to do any work for the 11-day ship journey South, so she spent her time reading several books and did a bit of sketching. On the 19th of December the S.A. Agulhas IIwas close to the Fimbul Ice-shelf in Dronning Maud Land. Over the summer Jess spent approximately 100 hours in between work and chores, helping out and socialising; drawing, painting and studying the landscapes. “It was an unforgettable experience, one that still feels like a dream. I am ever grateful for the incredible opportunity. Since having spent all that time observing the place, I will remember it deeply for the rest of my days.”
ANT{INK}TICA : There were initially no plans to publicise her art, but the opportunity was presented by the archivist at Antarctic Legacy of South Africa (ALSA) to publish it in a coffee table book. This is the first art publication from the Antarctic Legacy of South Africa. The book consists of 49 sketches and 3 poems, depicting scenes experienced by Jess during her Antarctic Expedition. Only 100 publications are available and will be signed by the artist. This publication will be a unique addition to Art Book Collections and Antarctic publications. Visit the website www.justjiggs.comto read more about the publication and place an order or contact riaolivier@sun.ac.za for more details.
Jess’ message to you: “To get out there, challenge yourself. To believe in yourself and your ability. To try new things. Try harder, to judge yourself less and to never give up. To appreciate the experiences and lessons you’ve been endowed with and to help others along their way”. . Jess’ hope is that this book will shine a light for you, to show you that anything is possible. That persistence pays. Magic exists. And every day is a gift. Life is short, don’t waste a second.
Text: Jess Verheul Photo credits: Jess Verheul, Colin de la Harpe, ALSA
South Africa is the only African nation with a foothold in Antarctica and the Southern Ocean. It therefore bears a regional responsibility and serves as a channel for broader African scientific research interests in the Antarctic region.
Marion 77 will depart today from East Pier to Marion Island. In a press release Minister Creecy (see below) stated that :” As a result of the lockdown and as per announcement of the President, the voyage planning and arrangements have to be reconfigured to minimise risks;
Listen to 
CAREER OPPORTUNITY – Post Doctoral Fellowships. The Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) is a leading scientific and technology research organisation that researches, develops, localises and diffuses technologies to accelerate socio-economic prosperity in South Africa. The organisation’s work contributes to industrial development and supports a capable state.
The CSIR has three opportunities for Post-Doctoral Fellowships in the Southern Ocean Carbon and Climate Observatory programme (SOCCO), within the Smart Places cluster, and hosted at the Marine Institute (Ma-Re), UCT. The purpose of the fellowships is to conduct research in line with three H2020 projects in which SOCCO is a partner. The positions are offered as a two-year contract with the possibility of extension for a third year. These opportunities are based in Rosebank, Cape Town. For more information about the programme and cluster please visit 
Jess completed her Master’s Degree in Environmental Management in 2012 and started working in the corporate consulting world. She relocated to Cape Town in 2014 and got involved as a volunteer firefighter and started experimenting more with creative hobbies like drawing and painting. In 2018 she was offered a volunteer position for the summer takeover to 
“Lacking a good camera but having a desire to experience this incredible place to the fullest, and knowing that drawing is a fantastic meditation; I treated myself to a blank sketchbook and some fine-liner pens before departing on our journey. I like creative expression. It helps me clear my head and experience a place or a situation more deeply.”
ANT{INK}TICA : There were initially no plans to publicise her art, but the opportunity was presented by the archivist at Antarctic Legacy of South Africa (ALSA) to publish it in a coffee table book. This is the first art publication from the Antarctic Legacy of South Africa. The book consists of 49 sketches and 3 poems, depicting scenes experienced by Jess during her Antarctic Expedition. Only 100 publications are available and will be signed by the artist. This publication will be a unique addition to Art Book Collections and Antarctic publications. 
Jess’ message to you: “To get out there, challenge yourself. To believe in yourself and your ability. To try new things. Try harder, to judge yourself less and to never give up. To appreciate the experiences and lessons you’ve been endowed with and to help others along their way”. . Jess’ hope is that this book will shine a light for you, to show you that anything is possible. That persistence pays. Magic exists. And every day is a gift. Life is short, don’t waste a second.
