by Ria Olivier | Feb 29, 2024 | Antarctica, Legacy, Research, SANAP, SANAP Student
The only session on human enterprise within the Marine and Antarctic Research Strategy research themes was chaired by Charne Lavery. These presentations include humanities within the South African National Antarctic Programme. Four higher education institutions; University of Pretoria, University of Cape Town, Stellenbosch University and University of the Free State, were involved and the presentations were of a wide variety.
Above (l-r): Jean Brundrit, Adrienne van Eeden-Wharton, Marike Stander, Ria Olivier
- Prof J Brundrit Over the Horizon: An art project in Antarctica. (Abstract)
- Dr A van Eeden-Wharton: Render | Remnant: Tracing the entangled histories of African and Antarctic whaling. (Abstract)
- Dr C Lavery: Orienting South: Looking to Antarctica and the Southern Ocean in South African literature. (Abstract)
- M Olivier: Humanities can build bridges between researchers in different fields in Antarctic research. (Abstract). Poster.
- DR M Stander et al.: Proposed project: Digitisation and preservation of Marion Island’s hut books. (Abstract). E-Poster
Jean Brundrit : “Over the Horison” was displayed with other publications by the Antarctic Legacy of South Africa.
Charne added fiction titles to everyone’s reading lists.
Alistair Mackay: It Doesn’t Have to Be This Way. “The high-tide mark is Strand Street again, just as it was before the land reclamations of the twentieth century. The waves break on the outer stone walls of the seventeenth-century Dutch Fortress, but the water is only ankle-deep along the street. He walks along the breakers in the cool ocean spray. Waves smash into foreshore skyscrapers. They ricochet off the buildings and form mesmerizing patterns as they funnel towards him over Long Street, then Adderley Street.”
Peter Wilhelm: Summer’s End. “This is a tale of South Africa in the next Ice Age. Imagine the vast desolation and beauty of Antarctica massed up against the southern mountains. To the north the highveld will be covered in permanent snow and ice. Terrifying storms will sweep across the plains between. Here our descendants will live, clinging to their humanity.”
by Ria Olivier | Feb 27, 2024 | Antarctica, Environment, Geomorphology, Marion Island, Research, SANAP, SANAP Student
Prof Werner Nel chaired the session on earth system Observations under the title: “Antarctic and sub-Antarctic Earth Science”. The session opened with a talk by Geoff Grantham of University of Johannesburg and Werner then introduced research Landscape and climate interactions in the sub-Antarctic. The session was in the format of a panel and roundtable discussion. (Above group photo of Landscape research in mountain and polar environments)
In this session four higher education Institutions were represented.
Above l-r: Geoff Grantham (UJ), Liezel Rudolph (UFS), Abu Nguna (UFH), Sibusiso Sinuka (UFH), Zenande Kabase(UFH)
- Dr Geoff Grantham: Geological and Geophysical Research in Western Dronning Maud Land, Antarctica. Fieldwork, Laboratory Methods, History and Progress over ~40 years. (Abstract)
- Prof Werner Nel: Landscape and climate interactions in the sub-Antarctic: Past, present and future. (Abstract)
- Dr Elizabeth Rudolph: The deglaciation of sub-Antarctic Marion Island. (Abstract)
- Mr Sibusiso Sinuka: Towards determining the formation ages of the lithologies on sub-Antarctic Marion Island. (Abstract)
- Mr Abuyiselwe Nguna: Preliminary results of fallout 137Caesium techniques on Aeolian land features on sub-Antarctic Marion Island . (Abstract)
- Mr Zenande Kabase: Long term trends in extreme daily temperature and precipitation on sub-Antarctic Marion Island from 1950 to 2020. (e-Poster)(Abtract)
Other presentations of this project were given in the data management and humanities sessions as well as David Hedding in the summer survey as he only joined on 30 November due to the Prince Edward Island Scientific Expedition. (l-R: David Hedding (UNISA), Marike Stander (UFS), Bjorn Boyes (UFS)
by Ria Olivier | Feb 26, 2024 | Antarctica, Biosecurity, Engineering, Mammology, Marine Protected Area, Marion Island, Research, SANAP
Dr Mia Wege chaired the session on Marine Mammals during the 6th SANAP Symposium that resorts within the Marine and Antarctic Research Strategy – ecosystems, biodiversity and biodiscovery. The session includes talks on various marine and the presentations were arranged according roughly to species and area. This Included elephant seals, fur seal, Ross seal, whales in ice, whales along the Southern African coast The session was presented in panel, discussion format, that allowed for questions form the audience. (Photo Credit: ALSA Archive)
- Dr Christian Murray: Understanding the drivers of Marion Island’s elephant seal population. (Abstract)
- Leandri de Kock: Considering individual variation when investigating marine predator behaviours during life- history events(Abstract)
- Dr Liezl Pretorius and Dr Greg Hofmeyr (presenting): Canine morphometrics as a tool for distinguishing species, sex and age in Southern Ocean fur seals(Abstract)
- Dr Mia Wege: The conveyor belt of Ross seals in the Lazarev Sea and their behaviour. (Abstract)
- Matthew Germishuizen: Sea ice declines coincide with a period of reduced reproductive success in Southern Ocean top predator (Abstract)
- Oluwaseyi Paul Babalola: Entropy-based Detection and Classification of Bryde’s Whale Vocalizations: An Approach for Understanding and Conserving an Endangered Species(Abstract)
(Above L-R: Dr Christian Murray, Leandri de Kock, Dr Greg Hofmeyr, Oluwaseyi Paul Babalola)
It was great to see the Mammal Research Institute Whale Unit of the University of Pretoria based in Hermanus, Western Cape represented during the symposium by Dr Els Vermeulen, Matthew Germishuizen, Elisa Seyboth and Antonia Immerz. (Above L-R)
The Prince Edward Island scientific expedition was able to join the symposium on the 30th November and Chris Oosthuizen did his presentation in the session, ‘Data Management and the Summer Survey Participants’ chaired by Dr Christel Hansen. Liezel Pretorius was also able to join the conference on the Thursday. (Above L-R: Chris Oosthuizen, Liezel Pretorius, Yinhla Shihlomuhle)
- Dr Chris Oosthuizen. Marine predators: ecosystem sentinels that help inform Southern Ocean management. (Abstract)
An initiative by Mia Wege was to use the SANAP symposium to bring all “bio loggers/trackers” together, that included researchers who tag animals, mostly top predators across the globe. The purpose was to get some structure going and talk about a potential larger workshop specifically for the entire community. The meeting was well represented, and this was a great opportunity used.
Two of the Principal investigators of the project were able to attend the symposium. ( Nico de Bruyn(left) – University of Pretoria and Jaco Versfeld (Right) Stellenbosch University)
by Ria Olivier | Feb 21, 2024 | Antarctica, Marion Island, Overwintering Team, SA Agulhas II, SANAE IV, SANAP, Stations, Take-Over Operations
It was a great event to welcome back the SANAE62 overwintering team after they spent more than a year at Antarctica. Dr Aby Paton(front 3rd form left), medical doctor of the team did not return as she will be staying on at SANAEIV as team leader and medical doctor for SANAE63.
The event was organised by Ms Chuma Phamoli, Director of Antarctic and Southern Oceans Islands Support. Dr L Fikizolo, Deputy Director of Oceans and Coasts, gave the welcome speech and thanked everyone on the voyage for their dedication and hard work to make the take over period successful. “This was the first season that the vessel had cover two destinations (Antarctica and Marion Island) on both the out bound and in bound legs of the voyage. The voyage also gave the Department of Public Works and Infrastructure (DPWI) the necessary platform to undertake their annual maintenance activities at the SANAE IV base and the removal of old infrastructure on Marion Island.” – DFFE
DFFE preparations for welcoming ceremony(image left). Zaid Watson and Mawonga Mandleni provided entertainment while everyone was waiting (image right)
Family, friend and colleagues wait to greet everyone
And then the S.A, Agulhas II arrive at East Pier with those on board
WELOME SPEECH Video Recording MEDIA INVITE
by Ria Olivier | Feb 12, 2024 | Antarctica, Research, SANAP, SAPolarRI, Uncategorised
During the 6th Symposium sessions were allocated to cross cutting disciplines and it led to great presentations and discussions.
Science Engagement and Awareness within SANAP
Anché Louw of the South African Polar Institute and co-investigator of the Antarctic Legacy if South Africa chair the session and begin the session with a presentation on the Antarctic Legacy Internet footprint.
She told her story when she started within the SANAP program as an honors student in Botany. she highlight the importance that as researchers we need to communicate our work and create awareness for the science that we participate in.
Sarah Fawcett asked Anché to highlight the possibilities of Wiley publishing and due to an agreement researchers can publish in a huge variety of journals at no cost, and those papers will be fully open access. Similar agreements have recently been negotiated with Springer and Elsevier, so there’s really no reason any of us should be paying for publication. A Leaflet was include in the welcoming package of all participants. Dr. Pete Convey also mentioned the possibilities and opportunities within SCAR where researchers can publish.
The session included an e-poster by Ria Olivier of the LSA digital museum. The museum can be downloaded from the ALSA archive
by Ria Olivier | Oct 6, 2023 | Announcement, Antarctica, Jobs, Marion Island, Meteorology, Overwintering Team, SANAP, Southern Ocean, Stations, sub-Antarctic
The following vacancies are advertised by The Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment (DFFE) for positions based on Antarctica and Marion Island.
Antarctica, SANAE IV (the 4th South African National Antarctic Expedition Station):
The successful applicant will spend a full year (December 2023 to February 2025) at SANAE base. There is no option to return to South Africa before February 2025.
Marion Island:
The successful applicant will spend a full year (April 2024 to May 2025) at Marion Island. There is no option to return to South Africa before May 2025.
| Job Title | Station | Period | Closing Date | Job Advert |
| Assistant Meteorological Technician 2 posts | Marion Island | April 2025 to May 2026 | 24 February 2025 | Click here |
| Mouse-Free Marion (MFM) Project Field Assistants | Marion Island | April 2025 to May 2026 | 28 November 2024 | Click here |
Anche Louw, Co-Principal Investigator of Antarctic Legacy of South Africa and Digital Marketing and Communications Manager of the South African Polar Research Infrastructure, 06 October 2023.
