News | Marine and Antarctic Research for Innovation and Sustainability

From Ocean Whirls to Global Partnerships: MARiS Joins the WHIRLS Cruise 2026 Celebration

On 30 July 2026, the UCT-MARiS team was honoured to be invited aboard the French research vessel Marion Dufresne II for a special conference marking the conclusion of the WHIRLS Cruise 2026.

MARiS Reaccredited for Another Five Years: Celebrating Excellence, Collaboration and Impact

MARiS has been reaccredited by UCT for 2026–2031, recognizing its impactful research, interdisciplinary collaborations, strong governance and international reputation — a collective achievement for the MARiS community.

UCT-MARiS at SCAR2026: Connecting South African Science with the Global Polar Community

UCT-MARiS researchers joined the global polar science community at the 12th SCAR2026 in Oslo, sharing research, building collaborations and showcasing South Africa’s contribution to Antarctic and Southern Ocean science.

MARiS Makes a Difference for Mandela Day Marina Clean Up 2026

UCT-MARiS, Biological Sciences and Partners Remove Over Half a Ton of Marine Debris During Collaborative Mandela Day Marina Cleanup from the the Royal Cape Yacht Club (RCYC) marina's Cat Corner on Saturday, 18 July 2026.

WHIRLSchool 2026: Training the Next Generation of Ocean Scientists at Sea

WHIRLSchool brought 11 students and early-career researchers aboard the R/V S.A. Agulhas II for an immersive ocean science experience, combining hands-on fieldwork, data analysis, research and scientific communication.

UCT-MARiS Researcher Joins African Round Table on Marine and Ocean Governance in Nairobi

Dr Louise Gammage represented UCT-MARiS at an African Round Table on Marine and Ocean Governance in Nairobi, contributing perspectives on small-scale fisheries, community participation and strengthening legal capacity for ocean governance.

MARiS Hosts Another Successful Annual Quiz Night Fundraiser

The MARiS Early Career Researchers (ECRs) hosted their 4th Annual MARiS Quiz Night Fundraiser on Thursday, 18 June 2026, welcoming 26 enthusiastic participants to the John Day Museum for an evening of fun and friendly competition.

On the Ice: Learning from the field at Saroma Sea Ice School in Japan

UCT-MARiS and SAPRI Research Assistant, Dayna Collins, attended the Saroma Sea Ice School 2026 in Japan, gaining hands-on polar sea ice research experience, building global connections, and advancing her journey in sea ice science.

Exploring False Bay's Seafloor Through Innovation: MARiS Collaboration MarBEL x ARU

MARiS researchers: MarBEL x ARU successfully tested an ROV in False Bay, combining marine ecology and robotics to unlock new insights into seafloor habitats and benthic ecosystems.

Charting New Waters: Zee Mfaku’s Field Experience with SAPRI’s Ocean Monitoring Mission, Algoa Bay

SAPRI Research Assistant Zee Mfaku joined a field mission aboard the R/V Observer, installing a weather station and deploying six ocean buoys offshore of Algoa Bay—strengthening ocean monitoring while gaining valuable hands-on experience.

From Cape Town to Brazil: Diving into Ocean–Atmosphere Science with SOLAS

UCT-MARiS PhD student Christiaan van Niekerk represented UCT-MARiS at the 2026 SOLAS Summer School, joining 45 early-career researchers to explore ocean–atmosphere science, international collaboration, and science communication.

From Antarctic Research to the Classroom: Inspiring Future Women Engineers

Celebrating World Engineering Day, UCT-MARiS ECRs Sarah Tallack and Tristyn Ferreiro inspired Springfield Convent learners by sharing their engineering journeys and challenging Women in STEM stereotypes.

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