MARiS at SCAR Conference 2024!
South Africa was well represented at the XIth SCAR Open Science Conference held in Pucón-Punta Arenas, Chile in August 2024. Posters and presentations from the delegates showcased South Africa’s research and contribution to safeguarding our blue planet for a sustainable future. Representatives from the MARiS sea ice research group attended and presented their research at the conference.
The XIth SCAR Open Science Conference brought together researchers from across the globe and from a vast array of disciplines to foster interdisciplinary networking and collaboration on Antarctic issues. “The Scientific Committee on Antarctic Research (SCAR) is a non-governmental organisation that instigates, advances and coordinates research about Antarctica and the Southern Ocean on international platforms. Pucón and Punta Arenas was the world capitals of Antarctica during the conference and the biennial meetings, capturing the interest of global media.
The conference comprised of a diverse programme featuring plenary lectures, mini-symposia, parallel sessions, panel discussions, posters, and various social and excursion opportunities in Pucón and its surroundings.
“The SCAR Open Science Conference (SCAR OSC) stands as the foremost global platform for Antarctic science. It unites hundreds of researchers and other stakeholders who showcase cutting-edge advancements, shaping the trajectory of polar knowledge. The conference focuses not only on advancing our understanding of Antarctica but also on discussing its interface with critical issues like the climate crisis and its global impacts.”
An interdisciplinary, multi-departmental and multi-faculty research collaborative with MARiS through investigating sea ice from large to small scale processes and properties of sea ice, Ms Robyn Verrinder (UCT Electrical Engineering) and Dr Tokoloho Rampai (UCT Chemical Engineering) had the privilege of representing the UCT MARIS SEA ICE team at the SCAR Open Science Conference 2024 in Pucón, Chile, where they shared insights from MARIS's innovative work on Antarctic sea ice dynamics, focusing on the challenging and dynamic marginal ice zones (MIZ).
Dr. Rampai presented two posters and an oral. These were based on sea ice-algae interactions, sea ice dynamics and optimised methodologies for sea ice structure analysis. Ms Verrinder presented a poster on in situ wave-in ice measurements within the Antarctic Marginal Ice Zone during the SCALE winter 2022 expedition. Their team's poster highlighted the use of the UCT SHARC buoys, which provide critical in situ measurements of waves-in-ice dynamics during extreme polar conditions. These data are crucial for advancing our understanding of how sea ice responds to environmental forces, contributing to more accurate global climate models.
The conference provided incredible opportunities for both of them to showcase their research and foster further collaborations for the advancement of science within Antarctic research. Stay tuned for more updates as we continue to push the boundaries of marine and polar research!