Antarctic Legacy of South Africa

📢 Applications for the 2027 South African Master of Ocean Sciences (SAMOS) are officially OPEN! 🌊

If you're a graduate student ready to dive deeper into and , this is your chance to shape your career.

📍 Coursework starts February 2027 at the Ocean Sciences Campus, Nelson Mandela University (Gqeberha).

• 31 August 2026 – Applications Close

🔗 Apply & read the 2027 Prospectus here:
https://samos-edu.eu/ OR https://online.fliphtml5.com/evwws/2027-SAMOS-PROSPECTUS---DIGITAL/ =1

Congratulations to Professor Steven Chown - SAEF Director, appointed as Vice-Chancellor’s Distinguished Professor, at Monash University.
. Department of Science,Technology and Innovation SA National Research Foundation Scientific Committee on Antarctic Research (SCAR) Monash University
Read:
https://arcsaef.com/story/saef-director-appointed-vice-chancellors-distinguished-professor/

World Environment Day 2026
Today we celebrate World Environment Day under the theme Climate Action.
Through research in Antarctica, the Southern Ocean and the sub-Antarctic, SANAP scientists are helping to understand climate change, sea ice dynamics, carbon cycling, and ecosystem responses to environmental change. This research contributes to global efforts to better predict and respond to our changing climate.
Join us throughout Environment Month as we showcase how South African polar science is helping to build a more sustainable future.
https://www.sanap.ac.za/?p=48095&preview=true

Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the EnvironmentDepartment of Science,Technology and Innovation SANational Research FoundationScientific Committee on Antarctic Research (SCAR)

Africa’s unparalleled biodiversity and environmental variations present an extraordinary opportunity to explore novel microbial species and their functions. Yet African microbiomes are conspicuously absent from global datasets, with less than 3% of microbial diversity characterised to date.

This knowledge gap will now be addressed by a new NRF-SU South African Research Chair (SARChI) at Stellenbosch University, led by Prof Thulani Makhalanyane.

Prof Makhalanyane is a leading international microbiologist and advocate for why African microbiomes matter. He also leads the African Microbiome Project – a pan-African effort to reduce the knowledge deficit regarding African microbiota by sequencing 10 million samples.

SARChI is an initiative of the Department of Science, Technology and Innovation and the National Research Foundation.

Image credit: Stellenbosch University

Read more: https://www.su.ac.za/en/faculties/science/news/african-microbiomes-humans-ecosystems-will-be-focus-new-research-chair-su

🚀 June Holiday Program

Ready for an unforgettable space adventure? Join us for a Journey to the Cosmos, where young explorers will discover the wonders of the universe through exciting hands-on activities, games, and interactive learning experiences.

Register here 👉 https://forms.office.com/r/uxAkQFvL3W before 25 June 2026 to secure your spot.

📢 Are you planning on attending the Pathways to Policy workshop at in Oslo?

A limited number of travel grants of up to €600 are available to support Early Career Researchers attending the workshop "Pathways to Policy – Antarctic Governance and Science-Based Decision-Making", hosted by Association of Polar Early Career Scientists (APECS) and supported through the European Geosciences Union - EGU Training School scheme.

🗓 Workshop date: 12 August 2026
📍 SCAR Open Science Conference, Oslo, Norway

This interactive workshop will help participants better understand Antarctic governance and policy-making processes, while developing skills to communicate research effectively and contribute to science-based decision-making. No prior policy experience is required, and all SCAR OSC participants are welcome to attend.

💰 Travel funding eligibility:
• Early Career Researchers who completed their highest degree within the past 7 years
• Grants of up to €600 available
• Participation in the workshop is required for funding recipients

⏰ Application deadline: 15 June 2026, 23:59 GMT
https://scar2026.org/community-news/travel-funding-to-attend-the-pathways-to-policy-workshop-deadline-15-june

South African delegates and observers Thando Cebekhulu, Azwianewi Makhado, Andrea Angel and Makhudu Masotla attending the ACAP meetings in Swakopmund, Namibia, May-June 2026, photograph by Barry Baker

SCAR Newsletter now available online

Don't miss our May Newsletter!

Featuring...
🇳🇴 Registration Update & Second Circular
🐟 SCARFISH Call for new Executive Group Member
❄ AntClimNow Online Workshop, 11 June 2026
📌 Contribute to the SCARFISH Sample Sharing Database
🐧 SCAR Delegation attends ATCM/CEP Meetings in Hiroshima

Plus events, opportunities and publications from and for the Antarctic community.
Read: https://mailchi.mp/scar/may-scar-newsletter2026
Subscribe: https://scar.us7.list-manage.com/subscribe?u=a611f6f7c375923d8563a8821&id=b964133964