February Update
February was a month of collaboration, celebration and connection at the Antarctica New Zealand Science Conference. Many of the Platform team participated in poster sessions, gave science talks, public talks and facilitated workshops.
Science-Policy Expert Group
The Connecting Antarctic Science and Policy Workshop at the conference brought together transdisciplinary perspectives to explore the relationship between Antarctic research and decision-making in New Zealand. Policy-makers, researchers, educators, scientific advisors, and environmental managers were among the diverse array of stakeholders who attended. Working together in collaboration, participants deconstructed the key elements that facilitate science-policy interactions in New Zealand and explored the barriers and opportunities for success. The workshop produced a breadth of information, which will inform the work of the Antarctic Science Platform’s Science-Policy Expert Group supported also by dedicated PhD research project of University of Canterbury PhD student Natasha Gardiner. If you would like to learn more about the research project and the work of the Expert Group contact them here
The Tangaroa returns
NIWA’s Tangaroa returned to Wellington on the 16th of February following a successful five-week scientific voyage to the Ross Sea. Researchers are now working their way through the wealth of data collected during the voyage. Click here to watch the latest update from Voyage Leader Dr Richard O’Driscoll.
Sensitivity of the West Antarctic Ice Sheet to 2 degrees Celsius
Team members from Project 1, Antarctic Ice Dynamics, have now established the SWAIS 2C Project that involves researchers and engineers from nine countries. It aims to recover sediment cores from beneath the Ross Ice Shelf at the Kamb Ice Shelf and Crary Ice Rise. These new records will help reveal how sensitive the Ross Ice Shelf and West Antarctic Ice Sheet are to past warming that was similar to the 1.5 to 2 degree Celsius target set in the Paris Agreement. The SWAIS 2C team has submitted a proposal to the International Continental Drilling Project seeking US$1,200,000 for the project. Proposal success will allow the team to bring additional international scientific drilling expertise to the project, and will help continue strong and successful international scientific drilling partnerships.
Welcoming our new team members to New Zealand
After a few COVID-19 related delays we are delighted to welcome two modellers to the Platform team. Angela Bahamondes-Domingues, whose work is aligned to Project 3, is now based the National Modelling Hub at Victoria University of Wellington, and sea ice modeller Dr Max Thomas is also due to start with Project 4 at the University of Otago on the 1st of March.